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 It is nearly twenty years since I proposed to myself to write a history of English prose fiction.
acknowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I acknowledge that I broke down in the task, because I could not endure the labour in addition to the other labours of my life.
addition
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From this reading I acknowledge that I broke down in the task, because I could not endure the labour in addition to the other labours of my life.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ON NOVELS AND THE ART OF WRITING THEM.
ARTauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading ON NOVELS AND THE ART OF WRITING THEM.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading I acknowledge that I broke down in the task, because I could not endure the labour in addition to the other labours of my life.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the book might be charming, the work was very much the reverse.
broke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I acknowledge that I broke down in the task, because I could not endure the labour in addition to the other labours of my life.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
charming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the book might be charming, the work was very much the reverse.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I acknowledge that I broke down in the task, because I could not endure the labour in addition to the other labours of my life.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
down
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From this reading I acknowledge that I broke down in the task, because I could not endure the labour in addition to the other labours of my life.
endure
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From this reading I acknowledge that I broke down in the task, because I could not endure the labour in addition to the other labours of my life.
English
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From this reading It is nearly twenty years since I proposed to myself to write a history of English prose fiction.
fiction
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From this reading It is nearly twenty years since I proposed to myself to write a history of English prose fiction.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
heartily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
history
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From this reading It is nearly twenty years since I proposed to myself to write a history of English prose fiction.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It is nearly twenty years since I proposed to myself to write a history of English prose fiction.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I acknowledge that I broke down in the task, because I could not endure the labour in addition to the other labours of my life.
indefatigable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is nearly twenty years since I proposed to myself to write a history of English prose fiction.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is nearly twenty years since I proposed to myself to write a history of English prose fiction.
labour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I acknowledge that I broke down in the task, because I could not endure the labour in addition to the other labours of my life.
labours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I acknowledge that I broke down in the task, because I could not endure the labour in addition to the other labours of my life.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I acknowledge that I broke down in the task, because I could not endure the labour in addition to the other labours of my life.
light-handed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Though the book might be charming, the work was very much the reverse.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the book might be charming, the work was very much the reverse.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I acknowledge that I broke down in the task, because I could not endure the labour in addition to the other labours of my life.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading It is nearly twenty years since I proposed to myself to write a history of English prose fiction.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is nearly twenty years since I proposed to myself to write a history of English prose fiction.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I acknowledge that I broke down in the task, because I could not endure the labour in addition to the other labours of my life.
NOVELS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON NOVELS AND THE ART OF WRITING THEM.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON NOVELS AND THE ART OF WRITING THEM.
ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON NOVELS AND THE ART OF WRITING THEM.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I acknowledge that I broke down in the task, because I could not endure the labour in addition to the other labours of my life.
proposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is nearly twenty years since I proposed to myself to write a history of English prose fiction.
prose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is nearly twenty years since I proposed to myself to write a history of English prose fiction.
recommend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
reverse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the book might be charming, the work was very much the reverse.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It is nearly twenty years since I proposed to myself to write a history of English prose fiction.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
task
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I acknowledge that I broke down in the task, because I could not endure the labour in addition to the other labours of my life.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON NOVELS AND THE ART OF WRITING THEM.
THEMpronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading ON NOVELS AND THE ART OF WRITING THEM.
ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though the book might be charming, the work was very much the reverse.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is nearly twenty years since I proposed to myself to write a history of English prose fiction.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is nearly twenty years since I proposed to myself to write a history of English prose fiction.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the book might be charming, the work was very much the reverse.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Though the book might be charming, the work was very much the reverse.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading I shall never do it now, but the subject is so good a one that I recommend it heartily to some man of letters, who shall at the same time be indefatigable and light-handed.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the book might be charming, the work was very much the reverse.
write
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is nearly twenty years since I proposed to myself to write a history of English prose fiction.
WRITING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON NOVELS AND THE ART OF WRITING THEM.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is nearly twenty years since I proposed to myself to write a history of English prose fiction.
