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 ‘Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?’ asked the two impostors, and they pointed to and described the splendid material which was not there.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in their weaving.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon be finished.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?’ asked the two impostors, and they pointed to and described the splendid material which was not there.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon be finished.
beautiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?’ asked the two impostors, and they pointed to and described the splendid material which was not there.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading It was the same with him as the first one; he looked and looked, but because there was nothing on the empty loom he could see nothing.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
cloth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon be finished.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was the same with him as the first one; he looked and looked, but because there was nothing on the empty loom he could see nothing.
described
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?’ asked the two impostors, and they pointed to and described the splendid material which was not there.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
Emperor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon be finished.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
finished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon be finished.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was the same with him as the first one; he looked and looked, but because there was nothing on the empty loom he could see nothing.
getting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon be finished.
gold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in their weaving.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was the same with him as the first one; he looked and looked, but because there was nothing on the empty loom he could see nothing.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was the same with him as the first one; he looked and looked, but because there was nothing on the empty loom he could see nothing.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon be finished.
impostors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in their weaving.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in their weaving.
Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?’ asked the two impostors, and they pointed to and described the splendid material which was not there.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was the same with him as the first one; he looked and looked, but because there was nothing on the empty loom he could see nothing.
loom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
material
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?’ asked the two impostors, and they pointed to and described the splendid material which was not there.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in their weaving.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in their weaving.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ‘Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?’ asked the two impostors, and they pointed to and described the splendid material which was not there.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was the same with him as the first one; he looked and looked, but because there was nothing on the empty loom he could see nothing.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in their weaving.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ‘Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?’ asked the two impostors, and they pointed to and described the splendid material which was not there.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was the same with him as the first one; he looked and looked, but because there was nothing on the empty loom he could see nothing.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?’ asked the two impostors, and they pointed to and described the splendid material which was not there.
pockets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
pointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?’ asked the two impostors, and they pointed to and described the splendid material which was not there.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was the same with him as the first one; he looked and looked, but because there was nothing on the empty loom he could see nothing.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon be finished.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon be finished.
silk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in their weaving.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon be finished.
splendid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?’ asked the two impostors, and they pointed to and described the splendid material which was not there.
statesman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon be finished.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in their weaving.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in their weaving.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
threads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in their weaving.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?’ asked the two impostors, and they pointed to and described the splendid material which was not there.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in their weaving.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in their weaving.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon be finished.
weaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in their weaving.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon be finished.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading ‘Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?’ asked the two impostors, and they pointed to and described the splendid material which was not there.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was the same with him as the first one; he looked and looked, but because there was nothing on the empty loom he could see nothing.
working
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at the empty loom.
worthyadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːr.ði/
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon be finished.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon be finished.
