Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
allowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading [Titian Bad and Titian Good] I wonder why some things are?
any
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From this reading The brush may still deal freely with any subject, however revolting or indelicate.
approach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading [Titian Bad and Titian Good] I wonder why some things are?
Artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
Bad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Titian Bad and Titian Good] I wonder why some things are?
beastliest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
beastliness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
brush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brush may still deal freely with any subject, however revolting or indelicate.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
curtailed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
deal
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From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
earlier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
eighty
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From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
Fielding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
forms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
foul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
freely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brush may still deal freely with any subject, however revolting or indelicate.
GoodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading [Titian Bad and Titian Good] I wonder why some things are?
guarded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The brush may still deal freely with any subject, however revolting or indelicate.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading [Titian Bad and Titian Good] I wonder why some things are?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
indecent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
indelicate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brush may still deal freely with any subject, however revolting or indelicate.
instance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
language
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
license
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
Literature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The brush may still deal freely with any subject, however revolting or indelicate.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
nice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
ninety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
plenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
portray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
privileges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
respect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
revolting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brush may still deal freely with any subject, however revolting or indelicate.
sharplynounUS /ˈsharply/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
Smollett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But not so with Art.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Titian Bad and Titian Good] I wonder why some things are?
speech
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The brush may still deal freely with any subject, however revolting or indelicate.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brush may still deal freely with any subject, however revolting or indelicate.
subjects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Titian Bad and Titian Good] I wonder why some things are?
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
Titian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Titian Bad and Titian Good] I wonder why some things are?
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
today
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Titian Bad and Titian Good] I wonder why some things are?
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Fielding and Smollett could portray the beastliness of their day in the beastliest language; we have plenty of foul subjects to deal with in our day, but we are not allowed to approach them very near, even with nice and guarded forms of speech.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Titian Bad and Titian Good] I wonder why some things are?
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, Art is allowed as much indecent license today as in earlier times--but the privileges of Literature in this respect have been sharply curtailed within the past eighty or ninety years.
