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 YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
ADVENTURES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.
arriving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
ask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
captivity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
castle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
common-sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
credentials
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
entire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.
far-away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
generally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
giant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
Hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
king
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
lawless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
liars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
lies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.
listening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
loaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
locality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
month
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.
novelette
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
people's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.
pointer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
princessnounUS /ˈprɪn.ses/
The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.
route
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
scoundrelnounUS /ˈskaʊndrəl/
a dishonest or unscrupulous person
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
SEARCH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
sexes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
simple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.
stranger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
swallowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.
tale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
tramps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
usually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
wandering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
wanting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
YANKEE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
yes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.