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 And the night watchman being such a sound sleeper, their conversation did not awaken him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
animals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So without any fear the elephant began his story.
appeared
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From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
appointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
awaken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the night watchman being such a sound sleeper, their conversation did not awaken him.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So without any fear the elephant began his story.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
cages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
circus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
Club
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
conversation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the night watchman being such a sound sleeper, their conversation did not awaken him.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
Dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading And the night watchman being such a sound sleeper, their conversation did not awaken him.
elephant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So without any fear the elephant began his story.
ELEPHANT'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
elephants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
eleven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So without any fear the elephant began his story.
fiftieth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And the night watchman being such a sound sleeper, their conversation did not awaken him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading So without any fear the elephant began his story.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
joined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
meeting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And the night watchman being such a sound sleeper, their conversation did not awaken him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
plainlynounUS /ˈplainly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
promptly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
ring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
sleeper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the night watchman being such a sound sleeper, their conversation did not awaken him.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So without any fear the elephant began his story.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the night watchman being such a sound sleeper, their conversation did not awaken him.
speaker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
STORY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading And the night watchman being such a sound sleeper, their conversation did not awaken him.
surrounding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
tent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
thirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
watchman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the night watchman being such a sound sleeper, their conversation did not awaken him.
Wednesday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE ELEPHANT’S STORY The next night being Wednesday, the day they had decided to have their Club meeting, all the animals that had joined the club appeared promptly at the appointed hour, which was eleven thirty, in the middle of the circus tent.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading So without any fear the elephant began his story.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tent being rather small and very quiet at that hour of the night, it was found that all the animals in the cages surrounding the ring could hear plainly every word the speaker said.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The Elephant’s Story “Dear friends, I am about to tell you not only the story of my life which will seem a long one to you, as I am in my two hundred and fiftieth year, but many things about elephants.
