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 don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was distinct tenderness in Old Corrie's face as he watched the curling wreaths of smoke.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
Basil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There's no life like it, Master Basil, say what they will of the pleasures of the city.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
belong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
betters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
blackbirds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
bush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
camp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There's no life like it, Master Basil, say what they will of the pleasures of the city.
claim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
Corrie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was distinct tenderness in Old Corrie's face as he watched the curling wreaths of smoke.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
curling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was distinct tenderness in Old Corrie's face as he watched the curling wreaths of smoke.
distinct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was distinct tenderness in Old Corrie's face as he watched the curling wreaths of smoke.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was distinct tenderness in Old Corrie's face as he watched the curling wreaths of smoke.
fancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was distinct tenderness in Old Corrie's face as he watched the curling wreaths of smoke.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was distinct tenderness in Old Corrie's face as he watched the curling wreaths of smoke.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There's no life like it, Master Basil, say what they will of the pleasures of the city.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There's no life like it, Master Basil, say what they will of the pleasures of the city.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There's no life like it, Master Basil, say what they will of the pleasures of the city.
Master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There's no life like it, Master Basil, say what they will of the pleasures of the city.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There's no life like it, Master Basil, say what they will of the pleasures of the city.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was distinct tenderness in Old Corrie's face as he watched the curling wreaths of smoke.
Old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was distinct tenderness in Old Corrie's face as he watched the curling wreaths of smoke.
pleasures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There's no life like it, Master Basil, say what they will of the pleasures of the city.
poet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
poetry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
rings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There's no life like it, Master Basil, say what they will of the pleasures of the city.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was distinct tenderness in Old Corrie's face as he watched the curling wreaths of smoke.
spinningnounUS /ˈspɪnɪŋ/
the act of making thread from fibers
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
tenderness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was distinct tenderness in Old Corrie's face as he watched the curling wreaths of smoke.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was distinct tenderness in Old Corrie's face as he watched the curling wreaths of smoke.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was distinct tenderness in Old Corrie's face as he watched the curling wreaths of smoke.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There's no life like it, Master Basil, say what they will of the pleasures of the city.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I don't lay claim to being a poet," he said; "I leave that to my betters; but they almost seem to me to belong to poetry, these rings of smoke that come and go.
turning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was distinct tenderness in Old Corrie's face as he watched the curling wreaths of smoke.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was distinct tenderness in Old Corrie's face as he watched the curling wreaths of smoke.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading There's no life like it, Master Basil, say what they will of the pleasures of the city.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading There's no life like it, Master Basil, say what they will of the pleasures of the city.
wreaths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was distinct tenderness in Old Corrie's face as he watched the curling wreaths of smoke.
yarns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bring back old times, and I could fancy we were in the bush, sitting by the camp fire before turning in for the night, spinning yarns, and as happy as blackbirds in spring.
