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 poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Enjoyment in the air is like oxygen in the air: it quickens everybody, and in its way makes them happier.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Enjoyment in the air is like oxygen in the air: it quickens everybody, and in its way makes them happier.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/
any person at all
From this reading The poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For the fact remains that it can be made some use of.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading For the fact remains that it can be made some use of.
cheerful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
direction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
drones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
enjoy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
Enjoyment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Enjoyment in the air is like oxygen in the air: it quickens everybody, and in its way makes them happier.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading Enjoyment in the air is like oxygen in the air: it quickens everybody, and in its way makes them happier.
exercise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
exert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
fact
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From this reading For the fact remains that it can be made some use of.
feels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
fight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the fact remains that it can be made some use of.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
happier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Enjoyment in the air is like oxygen in the air: it quickens everybody, and in its way makes them happier.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
hive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
humdrum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Enjoyment in the air is like oxygen in the air: it quickens everybody, and in its way makes them happier.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Enjoyment in the air is like oxygen in the air: it quickens everybody, and in its way makes them happier.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For the fact remains that it can be made some use of.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Enjoyment in the air is like oxygen in the air: it quickens everybody, and in its way makes them happier.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Enjoyment in the air is like oxygen in the air: it quickens everybody, and in its way makes them happier.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the fact remains that it can be made some use of.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
makes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Enjoyment in the air is like oxygen in the air: it quickens everybody, and in its way makes them happier.
mean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
mere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For the fact remains that it can be made some use of.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
oxygen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Enjoyment in the air is like oxygen in the air: it quickens everybody, and in its way makes them happier.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
politicians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
quickens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Enjoyment in the air is like oxygen in the air: it quickens everybody, and in its way makes them happier.
remains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the fact remains that it can be made some use of.
sailors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
soldiers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the fact remains that it can be made some use of.
teach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
teachers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
temperament
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For the fact remains that it can be made some use of.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the fact remains that it can be made some use of.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Enjoyment in the air is like oxygen in the air: it quickens everybody, and in its way makes them happier.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The poor drones can neither teach nor fight, nor make anybody good, but they can in their humdrum way make people a little more cheerful for a few minutes.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the fact remains that it can be made some use of.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Enjoyment in the air is like oxygen in the air: it quickens everybody, and in its way makes them happier.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Every one feels better for seeing one of these drones, who are neither soldiers, nor sailors, nor politicians, nor teachers, enjoy himself.
workers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For they have--this is what I mean by drones--a happy temperament, and as they are no good at all in any other direction, it is indeed time that they should be done to death by the workers of the hive if they do not exert themselves in the mere exercise of their temperament.
