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 “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Being so well assured of the daughter’s--he was about to say “love,” but he changed it to “sympathy”--being so well assured of the daughter’s sympathy, he could afford to wait for reinstatement in the good graces of the mother.
absolution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
afford
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From this reading Being so well assured of the daughter’s--he was about to say “love,” but he changed it to “sympathy”--being so well assured of the daughter’s sympathy, he could afford to wait for reinstatement in the good graces of the mother.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
anniversaries
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From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
application
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From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
assured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so well assured of the daughter’s--he was about to say “love,” but he changed it to “sympathy”--being so well assured of the daughter’s sympathy, he could afford to wait for reinstatement in the good graces of the mother.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading So much for the good; and as for the ill, the rebuff at the church gate went for little.
BACK
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From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
Beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Being so well assured of the daughter’s--he was about to say “love,” but he changed it to “sympathy”--being so well assured of the daughter’s sympathy, he could afford to wait for reinstatement in the good graces of the mother.
bidden
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From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
Brant
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From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
changed
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From this reading Being so well assured of the daughter’s--he was about to say “love,” but he changed it to “sympathy”--being so well assured of the daughter’s sympathy, he could afford to wait for reinstatement in the good graces of the mother.
church
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From this reading So much for the good; and as for the ill, the rebuff at the church gate went for little.
climax
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From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
comforting
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From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
COMPARING
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From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
confession
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From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
coveted
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From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
daughter's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so well assured of the daughter’s--he was about to say “love,” but he changed it to “sympathy”--being so well assured of the daughter’s sympathy, he could afford to wait for reinstatement in the good graces of the mother.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
Dorothy
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From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
doubt
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From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
fact
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From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
FOOL'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
fortnight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
fully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
gate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So much for the good; and as for the ill, the rebuff at the church gate went for little.
glad
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From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
graces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so well assured of the daughter’s--he was about to say “love,” but he changed it to “sympathy”--being so well assured of the daughter’s sympathy, he could afford to wait for reinstatement in the good graces of the mother.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
hopefully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
ill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So much for the good; and as for the ill, the rebuff at the church gate went for little.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
interruption
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From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So much for the good; and as for the ill, the rebuff at the church gate went for little.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so well assured of the daughter’s--he was about to say “love,” but he changed it to “sympathy”--being so well assured of the daughter’s sympathy, he could afford to wait for reinstatement in the good graces of the mother.
major
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
meeting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so well assured of the daughter’s--he was about to say “love,” but he changed it to “sympathy”--being so well assured of the daughter’s sympathy, he could afford to wait for reinstatement in the good graces of the mother.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So much for the good; and as for the ill, the rebuff at the church gate went for little.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
Notwithstanding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
parable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
personal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
plainlynounUS /ˈplainly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
reasonable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
rebuffnounUS /rɪˈbʌf/
an unkind refusal of a friendly offer or request
From this reading So much for the good; and as for the ill, the rebuff at the church gate went for little.
reckoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
reinstatement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so well assured of the daughter’s--he was about to say “love,” but he changed it to “sympathy”--being so well assured of the daughter’s sympathy, he could afford to wait for reinstatement in the good graces of the mother.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
ROD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so well assured of the daughter’s--he was about to say “love,” but he changed it to “sympathy”--being so well assured of the daughter’s sympathy, he could afford to wait for reinstatement in the good graces of the mother.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So much for the good; and as for the ill, the rebuff at the church gate went for little.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
spoken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
stoppednounUS /stopped/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
sympathy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so well assured of the daughter’s--he was about to say “love,” but he changed it to “sympathy”--being so well assured of the daughter’s sympathy, he could afford to wait for reinstatement in the good graces of the mother.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
truth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
understood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
untimely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
wait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so well assured of the daughter’s--he was about to say “love,” but he changed it to “sympathy”--being so well assured of the daughter’s sympathy, he could afford to wait for reinstatement in the good graces of the mother.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In good truth, his confession had stopped something short of its climax, and of the coveted personal absolution; but it was comforting to remember that he had spoken plainly, and that she had bidden him go forward hopefully.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so well assured of the daughter’s--he was about to say “love,” but he changed it to “sympathy”--being so well assured of the daughter’s sympathy, he could afford to wait for reinstatement in the good graces of the mother.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So much for the good; and as for the ill, the rebuff at the church gate went for little.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
worthyadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːr.ði/
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Notwithstanding the untimely interruption, there could be no reasonable doubt of the major fact: that she fully understood his parable and its application--understood and was glad, and would have let him go on but for the interruption.
yesterdays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A ROD FOR THE FOOL’S BACK” COMPARING it with the fortnight of yesterdays, Brant reckoned the day of his meeting with Dorothy as one worthy of anniversaries.
