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 There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
adequately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It rushes and it foams, as described by the poet, much more violently than does the real water; and so does everything described, unless in the hands of a wonderful master.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
courtship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A courtship is harder still--so hard that we may say generally that it is impossible.
describe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
described
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
difficult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It rushes and it foams, as described by the poet, much more violently than does the real water; and so does everything described, unless in the hands of a wonderful master.
effective
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading It rushes and it foams, as described by the poet, much more violently than does the real water; and so does everything described, unless in the hands of a wonderful master.
foams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It rushes and it foams, as described by the poet, much more violently than does the real water; and so does everything described, unless in the hands of a wonderful master.
generally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A courtship is harder still--so hard that we may say generally that it is impossible.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading It rushes and it foams, as described by the poet, much more violently than does the real water; and so does everything described, unless in the hands of a wonderful master.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A courtship is harder still--so hard that we may say generally that it is impossible.
harder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A courtship is harder still--so hard that we may say generally that it is impossible.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
hero
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
heroine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A courtship is harder still--so hard that we may say generally that it is impossible.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A courtship is harder still--so hard that we may say generally that it is impossible.
LAWRIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARY LAWRIE.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
Lodore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
MARY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARY LAWRIE.
master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It rushes and it foams, as described by the poet, much more violently than does the real water; and so does everything described, unless in the hands of a wonderful master.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading A courtship is harder still--so hard that we may say generally that it is impossible.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It rushes and it foams, as described by the poet, much more violently than does the real water; and so does everything described, unless in the hands of a wonderful master.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
painted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
picture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
poet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It rushes and it foams, as described by the poet, much more violently than does the real water; and so does everything described, unless in the hands of a wonderful master.
reader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It rushes and it foams, as described by the poet, much more violently than does the real water; and so does everything described, unless in the hands of a wonderful master.
rushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It rushes and it foams, as described by the poet, much more violently than does the real water; and so does everything described, unless in the hands of a wonderful master.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A courtship is harder still--so hard that we may say generally that it is impossible.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
Southey's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
stand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A courtship is harder still--so hard that we may say generally that it is impossible.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A courtship is harder still--so hard that we may say generally that it is impossible.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading It rushes and it foams, as described by the poet, much more violently than does the real water; and so does everything described, unless in the hands of a wonderful master.
violently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It rushes and it foams, as described by the poet, much more violently than does the real water; and so does everything described, unless in the hands of a wonderful master.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It rushes and it foams, as described by the poet, much more violently than does the real water; and so does everything described, unless in the hands of a wonderful master.
waterfall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading A courtship is harder still--so hard that we may say generally that it is impossible.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
wonderfulnounUS /ˈwonderful/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It rushes and it foams, as described by the poet, much more violently than does the real water; and so does everything described, unless in the hands of a wonderful master.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Southey's Lodore is supposed to have been effective; but let any one with the words in his memory stand beside the waterfall and say whether it is such as the words have painted it.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is nothing more difficult in the writing of a story than to describe adequately the person of a hero or a heroine, so as to place before the mind of the reader any clear picture of him or her who is described.
