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 emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
assured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
astrology
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been in many countries and learnt many things, including astrology.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
calm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
condition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Needless to say that one of the first things his mother told him was the sad condition of the princess, his foster-sister.
cost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability to cure her cost them their lives.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
countries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been in many countries and learnt many things, including astrology.
cure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
cut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
disposal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
emir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
finding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability to cure her cost them their lives.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability to cure her cost them their lives.
foster-sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Needless to say that one of the first things his mother told him was the sad condition of the princess, his foster-sister.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability to cure her cost them their lives.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Needless to say that one of the first things his mother told him was the sad condition of the princess, his foster-sister.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels.
inability
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability to cure her cost them their lives.
including
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been in many countries and learnt many things, including astrology.
irritated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
justly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
king
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
learnt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been in many countries and learnt many things, including astrology.
lives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability to cure her cost them their lives.
Majesty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability to cure her cost them their lives.
Marzavan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels.
monarch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Needless to say that one of the first things his mother told him was the sad condition of the princess, his foster-sister.
Needless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Needless to say that one of the first things his mother told him was the sad condition of the princess, his foster-sister.
nonsense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels.
nurse's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability to cure her cost them their lives.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Needless to say that one of the first things his mother told him was the sad condition of the princess, his foster-sister.
placed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
princessnounUS /ˈprɪn.ses/
The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
promptly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
reasonable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels.
sad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Needless to say that one of the first things his mother told him was the sad condition of the princess, his foster-sister.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Needless to say that one of the first things his mother told him was the sad condition of the princess, his foster-sister.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels.
suitors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability to cure her cost them their lives.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability to cure her cost them their lives.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability to cure her cost them their lives.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability to cure her cost them their lives.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Needless to say that one of the first things his mother told him was the sad condition of the princess, his foster-sister.
travels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels.
undertake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
venture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability to cure her cost them their lives.
