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 Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
accustomed
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From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
all
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From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
BEAST
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From this reading BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
BEAUTY
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From this reading BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
befell
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From this reading But one day a most unexpected misfortune befell them.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
burnt
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From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But one day a most unexpected misfortune befell them.
caught
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From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
contained
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From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
country
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From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
daughters
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From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
day
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From this reading But one day a most unexpected misfortune befell them.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
enormously
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From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
fancied
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From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
far-off
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From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
fortunate
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From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
furniture
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From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
gold
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From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
goods
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From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
misfortune
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From this reading But one day a most unexpected misfortune befell them.
money
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From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one day a most unexpected misfortune befell them.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
Once
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From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But one day a most unexpected misfortune befell them.
only
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From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
pictures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/
rare and worth a great deal
From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
rich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
silver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
six
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From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
sons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
speedily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
splendid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
troubles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
undertakings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
unexpected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one day a most unexpected misfortune befell them.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As he had, however, six sons and six daughters, he found that his money was not too much to let them all have everything they fancied, as they were accustomed to do.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant who had been so fortunate in all his undertakings that he was enormously rich.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Their house caught fire and was speedily burnt to the ground, with all the splendid furniture, the books, pictures, gold, silver, and precious goods it contained; and this was only the beginning of their troubles.
