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 I am haunted by a fear that the careless reader will think I am writing against upper-class schoolmasters.
affirmative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading I am haunted by a fear that the careless reader will think I am writing against upper-class schoolmasters.
alter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am haunted by a fear that the careless reader will think I am writing against upper-class schoolmasters.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing else of any wide value can be done until that is done.
approximate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I am, it is undeniable, writing against their dullness, but it is, I hold, a dullness that is imposed upon them by the conditions under which they live.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I am haunted by a fear that the careless reader will think I am writing against upper-class schoolmasters.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Nothing else of any wide value can be done until that is done.
careless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am haunted by a fear that the careless reader will think I am writing against upper-class schoolmasters.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
conditions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am, it is undeniable, writing against their dullness, but it is, I hold, a dullness that is imposed upon them by the conditions under which they live.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
directlynounUS /ˈdirectly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Nothing else of any wide value can be done until that is done.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
dullness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am, it is undeniable, writing against their dullness, but it is, I hold, a dullness that is imposed upon them by the conditions under which they live.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing else of any wide value can be done until that is done.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am haunted by a fear that the careless reader will think I am writing against upper-class schoolmasters.
feel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
haunted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am haunted by a fear that the careless reader will think I am writing against upper-class schoolmasters.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am, it is undeniable, writing against their dullness, but it is, I hold, a dullness that is imposed upon them by the conditions under which they live.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I am haunted by a fear that the careless reader will think I am writing against upper-class schoolmasters.
ideal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
imposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am, it is undeniable, writing against their dullness, but it is, I hold, a dullness that is imposed upon them by the conditions under which they live.
Indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I am, it is undeniable, writing against their dullness, but it is, I hold, a dullness that is imposed upon them by the conditions under which they live.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I am, it is undeniable, writing against their dullness, but it is, I hold, a dullness that is imposed upon them by the conditions under which they live.
limited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am, it is undeniable, writing against their dullness, but it is, I hold, a dullness that is imposed upon them by the conditions under which they live.
majority
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
nation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
needlessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing else of any wide value can be done until that is done.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
profession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
reader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am haunted by a fear that the careless reader will think I am writing against upper-class schoolmasters.
receive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
responses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
schoolmaster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
schoolmasters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am haunted by a fear that the careless reader will think I am writing against upper-class schoolmasters.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I am haunted by a fear that the careless reader will think I am writing against upper-class schoolmasters.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I am haunted by a fear that the careless reader will think I am writing against upper-class schoolmasters.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I am, it is undeniable, writing against their dullness, but it is, I hold, a dullness that is imposed upon them by the conditions under which they live.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I am, it is undeniable, writing against their dullness, but it is, I hold, a dullness that is imposed upon them by the conditions under which they live.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I am, it is undeniable, writing against their dullness, but it is, I hold, a dullness that is imposed upon them by the conditions under which they live.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I am haunted by a fear that the careless reader will think I am writing against upper-class schoolmasters.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
undeniable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am, it is undeniable, writing against their dullness, but it is, I hold, a dullness that is imposed upon them by the conditions under which they live.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading I am, it is undeniable, writing against their dullness, but it is, I hold, a dullness that is imposed upon them by the conditions under which they live.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Nothing else of any wide value can be done until that is done.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I am, it is undeniable, writing against their dullness, but it is, I hold, a dullness that is imposed upon them by the conditions under which they live.
upper-class
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am haunted by a fear that the careless reader will think I am writing against upper-class schoolmasters.
value
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing else of any wide value can be done until that is done.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading We have, as a nation, a certain ideal of what a schoolmaster must be; to that he must by art or nature approximate, and there is no help for it but to alter our ideal.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I am, it is undeniable, writing against their dullness, but it is, I hold, a dullness that is imposed upon them by the conditions under which they live.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing else of any wide value can be done until that is done.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading I am haunted by a fear that the careless reader will think I am writing against upper-class schoolmasters.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am haunted by a fear that the careless reader will think I am writing against upper-class schoolmasters.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
yourselvespronounUS /jʊrˈselvz/
used when the people spoken to are both doing and receiving the action
From this reading Indeed, I believe, could I put the thing directly to the profession--"Do you not yourselves feel needlessly limited and dull?"--should receive a majority of affirmative responses.
