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 Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
advised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
afterwards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce doubted whether he might not already be too old to enter the Navy, Richard said he had thought of that, and perhaps he was.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading Richard said he was ready for anything.
Army
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce asked him what he thought of the Army, Richard said he had thought of that, too, and it wasn’t a bad idea.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce asked him what he thought of the Army, Richard said he had thought of that, too, and it wasn’t a bad idea.
bad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce asked him what he thought of the Army, Richard said he had thought of that, too, and it wasn’t a bad idea.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
boyish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
consultations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
decide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
doubted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce doubted whether he might not already be too old to enter the Navy, Richard said he had thought of that, and perhaps he was.
enter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce doubted whether he might not already be too old to enter the Navy, Richard said he had thought of that, and perhaps he was.
Esther's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Richard said he was ready for anything.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce asked him what he thought of the Army, Richard said he had thought of that, too, and it wasn’t a bad idea.
impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/
a sudden strong desire to act
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
inclination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
Jarndyce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce doubted whether he might not already be too old to enter the Navy, Richard said he had thought of that, and perhaps he was.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
Narrative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
Navy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce doubted whether he might not already be too old to enter the Navy, Richard said he had thought of that, and perhaps he was.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce doubted whether he might not already be too old to enter the Navy, Richard said he had thought of that, and perhaps he was.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce doubted whether he might not already be too old to enter the Navy, Richard said he had thought of that, and perhaps he was.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce doubted whether he might not already be too old to enter the Navy, Richard said he had thought of that, and perhaps he was.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
ordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce doubted whether he might not already be too old to enter the Navy, Richard said he had thought of that, and perhaps he was.
preference
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
progress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Richard said he was ready for anything.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
requested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Richard said he was ready for anything.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce doubted whether he might not already be too old to enter the Navy, Richard said he had thought of that, and perhaps he was.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce doubted whether he might not already be too old to enter the Navy, Richard said he had thought of that, and perhaps he was.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce doubted whether he might not already be too old to enter the Navy, Richard said he had thought of that, and perhaps he was.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce doubted whether he might not already be too old to enter the Navy, Richard said he had thought of that, and perhaps he was.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce asked him what he thought of the Army, Richard said he had thought of that, too, and it wasn’t a bad idea.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
Well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce doubted whether he might not already be too old to enter the Navy, Richard said he had thought of that, and perhaps he was.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce doubted whether he might not already be too old to enter the Navy, Richard said he had thought of that, and perhaps he was.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading When Mr. Jarndyce advised him to try and decide within himself whether his old preference for the sea was an ordinary boyish inclination or a strong impulse, Richard answered, Well he really HAD tried very often, and he couldn’t make out.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Esther’s Narrative We held many consultations about what Richard was to be, first without Mr. Jarndyce, as he had requested, and afterwards with him, but it was a long time before we seemed to make progress.
