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 Parson made a curious figure; you would have laughed if you could have seen him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
agitated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
analyzing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
burnverbUS /bɜːrn/
To consume or be consumed by fire.
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
BUYING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BUYING THEIR RELEASE.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
candle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A solitary candle gave the flickering light by which he worked.
chemist
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From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
correct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The Parson made a curious figure; you would have laughed if you could have seen him.
curious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Parson made a curious figure; you would have laughed if you could have seen him.
diligently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
figure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Parson made a curious figure; you would have laughed if you could have seen him.
flickering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A solitary candle gave the flickering light by which he worked.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A solitary candle gave the flickering light by which he worked.
geologist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
gottabites
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The Parson made a curious figure; you would have laughed if you could have seen him.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A solitary candle gave the flickering light by which he worked.
hematites
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Parson made a curious figure; you would have laughed if you could have seen him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The Parson made a curious figure; you would have laughed if you could have seen him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
laughed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Parson made a curious figure; you would have laughed if you could have seen him.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A solitary candle gave the flickering light by which he worked.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Parson made a curious figure; you would have laughed if you could have seen him.
midnight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
oilnounUS /ɔɪl/
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
outasights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
Parson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
RELEASE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BUYING THEIR RELEASE.
scholarnounUS /ˈskɒl.ər/
A specialist in a particular branch of study; a distinguished student.
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
scholarly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Parson made a curious figure; you would have laughed if you could have seen him.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
solitary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A solitary candle gave the flickering light by which he worked.
Stanard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
tent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
THEIRdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading BUYING THEIR RELEASE.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
triflenounUS /ˈtraɪfəl/
something that needs very little effort
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Parson was a trifle agitated about that candle, because, as you know, it is the correct thing for a scholar to burn “midnight oil.”
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A solitary candle gave the flickering light by which he worked.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Our business just now is with Parson Stanard, the scholarly geologist and chemist, sitting all by himself in his silent tent and diligently analyzing his hematites and gottabites and outasights.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A solitary candle gave the flickering light by which he worked.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The Parson made a curious figure; you would have laughed if you could have seen him.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The Parson made a curious figure; you would have laughed if you could have seen him.
