Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
act
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From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
appeared
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From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
assistance
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From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
assume
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From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
bow
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From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
branch
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From this reading Noddy had not much taste for this branch of the profession.
brilliant
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From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
certain
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From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
clumsiness
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From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
companions
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From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
end
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From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
evolutions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
flourish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Noddy had not much taste for this branch of the profession.
go
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From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
graceful
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From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
lesson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
movements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Noddy had not much taste for this branch of the profession.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
needed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
Noddy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Noddy had not much taste for this branch of the profession.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
pass
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From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
performance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
polish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
profession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Noddy had not much taste for this branch of the profession.
recover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
ring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
RING-MASTER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RING-MASTER.
said
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From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
somersets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
tasteverbUS /teɪst/
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading Noddy had not much taste for this branch of the profession.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RING-MASTER.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Noddy had not much taste for this branch of the profession.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
tights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
trunk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could turn the somersets, and go through with the other evolutions; but there was a certain polish needed--so the ring-master said--to make them pass off well.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading When the performance was over, Noddy, with the assistance of one of his companions, dressed himself in "trunk and tights," and appeared in the ring to take his first lesson in graceful movements.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He was to assume a graceful position at the beginning and end of each act; he must recover himself without clumsiness; he must bow, and make a flourish with his hands, when he had done a brilliant thing.
