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 But a young man who is in love persuades himself with difficulty that fate is against him.
absolutely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Roger Burchell had made two unsuccessful visits to the Square--the first absolutely painful, the second disappointing.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading But a young man who is in love persuades himself with difficulty that fate is against him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
Burchell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Roger Burchell had made two unsuccessful visits to the Square--the first absolutely painful, the second disappointing.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But a young man who is in love persuades himself with difficulty that fate is against him.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
Cara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
difficulty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a young man who is in love persuades himself with difficulty that fate is against him.
disappointing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Roger Burchell had made two unsuccessful visits to the Square--the first absolutely painful, the second disappointing.
distinct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
failed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
FATE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROGER’S FATE.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Roger Burchell had made two unsuccessful visits to the Square--the first absolutely painful, the second disappointing.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Roger Burchell had made two unsuccessful visits to the Square--the first absolutely painful, the second disappointing.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But a young man who is in love persuades himself with difficulty that fate is against him.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But a young man who is in love persuades himself with difficulty that fate is against him.
incredible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
induce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But a young man who is in love persuades himself with difficulty that fate is against him.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a young man who is in love persuades himself with difficulty that fate is against him.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Roger Burchell had made two unsuccessful visits to the Square--the first absolutely painful, the second disappointing.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a young man who is in love persuades himself with difficulty that fate is against him.
mere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
occasions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
painful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Roger Burchell had made two unsuccessful visits to the Square--the first absolutely painful, the second disappointing.
persuades
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a young man who is in love persuades himself with difficulty that fate is against him.
repulse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
resolute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
revives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
Roger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Roger Burchell had made two unsuccessful visits to the Square--the first absolutely painful, the second disappointing.
ROGER'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROGER’S FATE.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Roger Burchell had made two unsuccessful visits to the Square--the first absolutely painful, the second disappointing.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
seems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
sentence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
shock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
Square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Roger Burchell had made two unsuccessful visits to the Square--the first absolutely painful, the second disappointing.
strangers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
surrounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
tempt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Roger Burchell had made two unsuccessful visits to the Square--the first absolutely painful, the second disappointing.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Roger Burchell had made two unsuccessful visits to the Square--the first absolutely painful, the second disappointing.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Roger Burchell had made two unsuccessful visits to the Square--the first absolutely painful, the second disappointing.
unlikely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
unmistakable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
unsuccessful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Roger Burchell had made two unsuccessful visits to the Square--the first absolutely painful, the second disappointing.
visits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Roger Burchell had made two unsuccessful visits to the Square--the first absolutely painful, the second disappointing.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading On both occasions he had failed to see Cara, except surrounded by strangers, who were nothing, and indeed less than nothing to him; and both times he had gone away resolute that nothing should induce him to tempt fate again, and come back.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But a young man who is in love persuades himself with difficulty that fate is against him.
wornverbUS /wɔːrn/
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading It seems so unlikely and incredible that such a thing should be; and short of a distinct and unmistakable sentence, hope revives after the shock of a mere repulse has a little worn off.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a young man who is in love persuades himself with difficulty that fate is against him.
