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 there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
abundance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this went along with great and continued political excitement, and with some glimpses of the social problem.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading All this went along with great and continued political excitement, and with some glimpses of the social problem.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All this went along with great and continued political excitement, and with some glimpses of the social problem.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
bent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading From the first he was taught by precept and example to take the side of the lower.
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading All this went along with great and continued political excitement, and with some glimpses of the social problem.
deal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
denied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
differences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
discover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
example
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first he was taught by precept and example to take the side of the lower.
excitement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this went along with great and continued political excitement, and with some glimpses of the social problem.
festival
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From the first he was taught by precept and example to take the side of the lower.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the first he was taught by precept and example to take the side of the lower.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
glimpses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this went along with great and continued political excitement, and with some glimpses of the social problem.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All this went along with great and continued political excitement, and with some glimpses of the social problem.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
higher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
indulged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
margin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
narrower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All this went along with great and continued political excitement, and with some glimpses of the social problem.
oftener
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
older
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
Once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
political
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this went along with great and continued political excitement, and with some glimpses of the social problem.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
precept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first he was taught by precept and example to take the side of the lower.
problem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this went along with great and continued political excitement, and with some glimpses of the social problem.
prosperousadjectiveUS /ˈprɑspərəs/
successful and without serious problems
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
provision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
rich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first he was taught by precept and example to take the side of the lower.
simple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
social
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this went along with great and continued political excitement, and with some glimpses of the social problem.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this went along with great and continued political excitement, and with some glimpses of the social problem.
somehow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From the first he was taught by precept and example to take the side of the lower.
taught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first he was taught by precept and example to take the side of the lower.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All this went along with great and continued political excitement, and with some glimpses of the social problem.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading All this went along with great and continued political excitement, and with some glimpses of the social problem.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All this went along with great and continued political excitement, and with some glimpses of the social problem.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Once there was a church festival, or something of that sort, and there was a good deal of the provision left over, which it was decided should be given to the poor.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading All this went along with great and continued political excitement, and with some glimpses of the social problem.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very simple then; nobody was very rich, and nobody was in want; but somehow, as the boy grew older, he began to discover that there were differences, even in the little world about him; some were higher and some were lower.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading As the children were denied oftener than they were indulged, the margin of their own abundance must have been narrower than they ever knew then; but if they had been of the most prosperous, their bent in this matter would have been the same.
