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 The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
attend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
bad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The style of living was bad for him.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
cheerfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was no light task which he had so cheerfully imposed upon himself.
constantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
constitutionally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Randolph did some hard thinking during the weeks which followed Richard Trueman's death.
delicate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading John Randolph did some hard thinking during the weeks which followed Richard Trueman's death.
doctornounUS /doctor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading John Randolph did some hard thinking during the weeks which followed Richard Trueman's death.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Randolph did some hard thinking during the weeks which followed Richard Trueman's death.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The style of living was bad for him.
forbiddenadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪd.ən/
Not allowed; banned or prohibited by rule or law.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
fretted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
German
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
good-natured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was no light task which he had so cheerfully imposed upon himself.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Randolph did some hard thinking during the weeks which followed Richard Trueman's death.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was no light task which he had so cheerfully imposed upon himself.
health
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The style of living was bad for him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was no light task which he had so cheerfully imposed upon himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
imposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was no light task which he had so cheerfully imposed upon himself.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was no light task which he had so cheerfully imposed upon himself.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Randolph did some hard thinking during the weeks which followed Richard Trueman's death.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was no light task which he had so cheerfully imposed upon himself.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The style of living was bad for him.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It was no light task which he had so cheerfully imposed upon himself.
occasional
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The style of living was bad for him.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
pale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
Randolph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Randolph did some hard thinking during the weeks which followed Richard Trueman's death.
reader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Randolph did some hard thinking during the weeks which followed Richard Trueman's death.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
send
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was no light task which he had so cheerfully imposed upon himself.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Randolph did some hard thinking during the weeks which followed Richard Trueman's death.
study
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
style
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The style of living was bad for him.
suffer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
task
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was no light task which he had so cheerfully imposed upon himself.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading John Randolph did some hard thinking during the weeks which followed Richard Trueman's death.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
thinkingnounUS /thinking/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading John Randolph did some hard thinking during the weeks which followed Richard Trueman's death.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
Trueman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Randolph did some hard thinking during the weeks which followed Richard Trueman's death.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was no light task which he had so cheerfully imposed upon himself.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
voracious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was no light task which he had so cheerfully imposed upon himself.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Randolph did some hard thinking during the weeks which followed Richard Trueman's death.
welcomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading John Randolph did some hard thinking during the weeks which followed Richard Trueman's death.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
willing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The boy was constitutionally delicate and fretted so constantly after his father that his health began to suffer, and it grew to be a very pale face which welcomed John with a smile when he returned from the office.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone all day, except for an occasional visit from the good-natured German woman who kept their rooms, and, although he was a voracious reader, the doctor had forbidden all thought of study for a year, even had there been a school near enough for him to attend, where John would have been willing to send him.
