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 post would have done just as well, and would have saved a great deal of trouble.
absurd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
Alburys
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From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
ANdeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading TOM TRINGLE GETS AN ANSWER.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The post would have done just as well, and would have saved a great deal of trouble.
ANSWER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOM TRINGLE GETS AN ANSWER.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
carry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
conviction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
country
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From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
deal
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From this reading The post would have done just as well, and would have saved a great deal of trouble.
delivered
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From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The post would have done just as well, and would have saved a great deal of trouble.
down
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From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
easily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
Faddle
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From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
GETS
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From this reading TOM TRINGLE GETS AN ANSWER.
gloomy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The post would have done just as well, and would have saved a great deal of trouble.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The post would have done just as well, and would have saved a great deal of trouble.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If they should invite him to the house the matter would be worse that way than the other.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If they should invite him to the house the matter would be worse that way than the other.
howling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If they should invite him to the house the matter would be worse that way than the other.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
invite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If they should invite him to the house the matter would be worse that way than the other.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The post would have done just as well, and would have saved a great deal of trouble.
law
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If they should invite him to the house the matter would be worse that way than the other.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
occasioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The post would have done just as well, and would have saved a great deal of trouble.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If they should invite him to the house the matter would be worse that way than the other.
post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The post would have done just as well, and would have saved a great deal of trouble.
requirednounUS /required/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
savednounUS /saved/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The post would have done just as well, and would have saved a great deal of trouble.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading If they should invite him to the house the matter would be worse that way than the other.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
swells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading If they should invite him to the house the matter would be worse that way than the other.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If they should invite him to the house the matter would be worse that way than the other.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
TOM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOM TRINGLE GETS AN ANSWER.
TRINGLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOM TRINGLE GETS AN ANSWER.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The post would have done just as well, and would have saved a great deal of trouble.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If they should invite him to the house the matter would be worse that way than the other.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The post would have done just as well, and would have saved a great deal of trouble.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These gloomy thoughts were occasioned by a conviction that he could not carry himself easily or make himself happy among such "howling swells" as these Alburys.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Faddle as he went down into the country made up his mind that the law which required such letters to be delivered by hand was an absurd law.
worse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If they should invite him to the house the matter would be worse that way than the other.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The post would have done just as well, and would have saved a great deal of trouble.
