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 For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
accredited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THIS change from insecurity to being an accredited newspaper man was delightful.
always
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From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THIS change from insecurity to being an accredited newspaper man was delightful.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
badly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course I found that beginners were very badly paid.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
beginners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course I found that beginners were very badly paid.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading THIS change from insecurity to being an accredited newspaper man was delightful.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The best I could learn of them in this office was that they did exist—on some papers.
change
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From this reading THIS change from insecurity to being an accredited newspaper man was delightful.
clear
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From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The best I could learn of them in this office was that they did exist—on some papers.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
delightful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THIS change from insecurity to being an accredited newspaper man was delightful.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The best I could learn of them in this office was that they did exist—on some papers.
dollars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
energetically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
exist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The best I could learn of them in this office was that they did exist—on some papers.
followed
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From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course I found that beginners were very badly paid.
fourteen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THIS change from insecurity to being an accredited newspaper man was delightful.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
heights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Of course I found that beginners were very badly paid.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
important
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The best I could learn of them in this office was that they did exist—on some papers.
insecurity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THIS change from insecurity to being an accredited newspaper man was delightful.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
lead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
learn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The best I could learn of them in this office was that they did exist—on some papers.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THIS change from insecurity to being an accredited newspaper man was delightful.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
missions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
newspaper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THIS change from insecurity to being an accredited newspaper man was delightful.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
OfprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course I found that beginners were very badly paid.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The best I could learn of them in this office was that they did exist—on some papers.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The best I could learn of them in this office was that they did exist—on some papers.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
paid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course I found that beginners were very badly paid.
papers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The best I could learn of them in this office was that they did exist—on some papers.
ranged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
reporters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
Salaries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The best I could learn of them in this office was that they did exist—on some papers.
straight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of course I found that beginners were very badly paid.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The best I could learn of them in this office was that they did exist—on some papers.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The best I could learn of them in this office was that they did exist—on some papers.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
THISdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THIS change from insecurity to being an accredited newspaper man was delightful.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THIS change from insecurity to being an accredited newspaper man was delightful.
twenty-five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Salaries ranged from fourteen to twenty-five dollars for reporters; and as for those important missions about which I had always been reading, they were not even thought of here.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THIS change from insecurity to being an accredited newspaper man was delightful.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Of course I found that beginners were very badly paid.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a very little while, a year or so, it seemed to open up a clear straight course which if followed energetically must lead me to great heights.
