Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
1871
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Of course before doing so I made a contract with a publisher for a book about the Colonies.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Of course before doing so I made a contract with a publisher for a book about the Colonies.
allotted
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From this reading This tendency to stretch comes not, I think, generally from the ambition of the writer, but from his inability to comprise the different parts in their allotted spaces.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
ambition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tendency to stretch comes not, I think, generally from the ambition of the writer, but from his inability to comprise the different parts in their allotted spaces.
amountverbUS /əˈmaʊnt/
to reach or total a particular quantity or value
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
ANNA
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From this reading _RALPH THE HEIR_--_THE EUSTACE DIAMONDS_--_LADY ANNA_--_AUSTRALIA_.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
AUSTRALIA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _RALPH THE HEIR_--_THE EUSTACE DIAMONDS_--_LADY ANNA_--_AUSTRALIA_.
aware
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Of course before doing so I made a contract with a publisher for a book about the Colonies.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course before doing so I made a contract with a publisher for a book about the Colonies.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This tendency to stretch comes not, I think, generally from the ambition of the writer, but from his inability to comprise the different parts in their allotted spaces.
Colonies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course before doing so I made a contract with a publisher for a book about the Colonies.
comes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tendency to stretch comes not, I think, generally from the ambition of the writer, but from his inability to comprise the different parts in their allotted spaces.
comprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tendency to stretch comes not, I think, generally from the ambition of the writer, but from his inability to comprise the different parts in their allotted spaces.
contract
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course before doing so I made a contract with a publisher for a book about the Colonies.
cost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course before doing so I made a contract with a publisher for a book about the Colonies.
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
demand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
DIAMONDS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _RALPH THE HEIR_--_THE EUSTACE DIAMONDS_--_LADY ANNA_--_AUSTRALIA_.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading This tendency to stretch comes not, I think, generally from the ambition of the writer, but from his inability to comprise the different parts in their allotted spaces.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course before doing so I made a contract with a publisher for a book about the Colonies.
EUSTACE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _RALPH THE HEIR_--_THE EUSTACE DIAMONDS_--_LADY ANNA_--_AUSTRALIA_.
fairly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
fiction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Of course before doing so I made a contract with a publisher for a book about the Colonies.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This tendency to stretch comes not, I think, generally from the ambition of the writer, but from his inability to comprise the different parts in their allotted spaces.
generally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tendency to stretch comes not, I think, generally from the ambition of the writer, but from his inability to comprise the different parts in their allotted spaces.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
HEIRnounUS /er/
A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.
From this reading _RALPH THE HEIR_--_THE EUSTACE DIAMONDS_--_LADY ANNA_--_AUSTRALIA_.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This tendency to stretch comes not, I think, generally from the ambition of the writer, but from his inability to comprise the different parts in their allotted spaces.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
inability
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tendency to stretch comes not, I think, generally from the ambition of the writer, but from his inability to comprise the different parts in their allotted spaces.
indomitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndəˈmɑtəbəl/
impossible to defeat or discourage
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
LADY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _RALPH THE HEIR_--_THE EUSTACE DIAMONDS_--_LADY ANNA_--_AUSTRALIA_.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course before doing so I made a contract with a publisher for a book about the Colonies.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
parts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tendency to stretch comes not, I think, generally from the ambition of the writer, but from his inability to comprise the different parts in their allotted spaces.
price
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
publisher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course before doing so I made a contract with a publisher for a book about the Colonies.
RALPH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _RALPH THE HEIR_--_THE EUSTACE DIAMONDS_--_LADY ANNA_--_AUSTRALIA_.
remunerative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
shepherd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Of course before doing so I made a contract with a publisher for a book about the Colonies.
sold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
spaces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tendency to stretch comes not, I think, generally from the ambition of the writer, but from his inability to comprise the different parts in their allotted spaces.
spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
stretch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
tendency
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _RALPH THE HEIR_--_THE EUSTACE DIAMONDS_--_LADY ANNA_--_AUSTRALIA_.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading This tendency to stretch comes not, I think, generally from the ambition of the writer, but from his inability to comprise the different parts in their allotted spaces.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This tendency to stretch comes not, I think, generally from the ambition of the writer, but from his inability to comprise the different parts in their allotted spaces.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
travelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Of course before doing so I made a contract with a publisher for a book about the Colonies.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In the spring of 1871 we,--I and my wife,--had decided that we would go to Australia to visit our shepherd son.
writer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tendency to stretch comes not, I think, generally from the ambition of the writer, but from his inability to comprise the different parts in their allotted spaces.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For such a work as this I had always been aware that I could not fairly demand more than half the price that would be given for the same amount of fiction; and as such books have an indomitable tendency to stretch themselves, so that more is given than what is sold, and as the cost of travelling is heavy, the writing of them is not remunerative.
