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 She had a dim idea that G O D spelt God, but she could not be quite sure--not sure enough to tell Dick that it was so.
alasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading But, alas! labour as she would, Tiny could not get over this difficulty even for herself.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She had a dim idea that G O D spelt God, but she could not be quite sure--not sure enough to tell Dick that it was so.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, alas! labour as she would, Tiny could not get over this difficulty even for herself.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They teased her to know how to put the letters together and make them into words which they could understand.
D
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a dim idea that G O D spelt God, but she could not be quite sure--not sure enough to tell Dick that it was so.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
Dick
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From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
difficulty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, alas! labour as she would, Tiny could not get over this difficulty even for herself.
dim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a dim idea that G O D spelt God, but she could not be quite sure--not sure enough to tell Dick that it was so.
disappointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a dim idea that G O D spelt God, but she could not be quite sure--not sure enough to tell Dick that it was so.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But, alas! labour as she would, Tiny could not get over this difficulty even for herself.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But, alas! labour as she would, Tiny could not get over this difficulty even for herself.
G
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a dim idea that G O D spelt God, but she could not be quite sure--not sure enough to tell Dick that it was so.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, alas! labour as she would, Tiny could not get over this difficulty even for herself.
God
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a dim idea that G O D spelt God, but she could not be quite sure--not sure enough to tell Dick that it was so.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had a dim idea that G O D spelt God, but she could not be quite sure--not sure enough to tell Dick that it was so.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading But, alas! labour as she would, Tiny could not get over this difficulty even for herself.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They teased her to know how to put the letters together and make them into words which they could understand.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a dim idea that G O D spelt God, but she could not be quite sure--not sure enough to tell Dick that it was so.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They teased her to know how to put the letters together and make them into words which they could understand.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She had a dim idea that G O D spelt God, but she could not be quite sure--not sure enough to tell Dick that it was so.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They teased her to know how to put the letters together and make them into words which they could understand.
labour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, alas! labour as she would, Tiny could not get over this difficulty even for herself.
learning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They teased her to know how to put the letters together and make them into words which they could understand.
marked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But, alas! labour as she would, Tiny could not get over this difficulty even for herself.
O
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a dim idea that G O D spelt God, but she could not be quite sure--not sure enough to tell Dick that it was so.
ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE SANDS.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But, alas! labour as she would, Tiny could not get over this difficulty even for herself.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
pointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
pupils
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They teased her to know how to put the letters together and make them into words which they could understand.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had a dim idea that G O D spelt God, but she could not be quite sure--not sure enough to tell Dick that it was so.
sand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
SANDS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE SANDS.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She had a dim idea that G O D spelt God, but she could not be quite sure--not sure enough to tell Dick that it was so.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
spelt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a dim idea that G O D spelt God, but she could not be quite sure--not sure enough to tell Dick that it was so.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had a dim idea that G O D spelt God, but she could not be quite sure--not sure enough to tell Dick that it was so.
teased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They teased her to know how to put the letters together and make them into words which they could understand.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had a dim idea that G O D spelt God, but she could not be quite sure--not sure enough to tell Dick that it was so.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE SANDS.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They teased her to know how to put the letters together and make them into words which they could understand.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They teased her to know how to put the letters together and make them into words which they could understand.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But, alas! labour as she would, Tiny could not get over this difficulty even for herself.
Tiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They teased her to know how to put the letters together and make them into words which they could understand.
Tom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They teased her to know how to put the letters together and make them into words which they could understand.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Tiny was somewhat disappointed as the days went on to find that her pupils, Tom and Dick, took less and less interest in learning the letters she marked in the sand, or pointed out on the paper.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They teased her to know how to put the letters together and make them into words which they could understand.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They teased her to know how to put the letters together and make them into words which they could understand.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But, alas! labour as she would, Tiny could not get over this difficulty even for herself.
