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 A large cask of wine had been dropped and broken, in the street.
accident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
according
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the people within reach had suspended their business, or their idleness, to run to the spot and drink the wine.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A large cask of wine had been dropped and broken, in the street.
approachedverbUS /əˈproʊtʃt/
moved or came nearer to someone or something
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A large cask of wine had been dropped and broken, in the street.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
bent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A large cask of wine had been dropped and broken, in the street.
burst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the people within reach had suspended their business, or their idleness, to run to the spot and drink the wine.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
cart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
cask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large cask of wine had been dropped and broken, in the street.
creatures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
crowd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
dammed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
designed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
drink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the people within reach had suspended their business, or their idleness, to run to the spot and drink the wine.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large cask of wine had been dropped and broken, in the street.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
expressly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
getting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
group
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A large cask of wine had been dropped and broken, in the street.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
hoops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
idleness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the people within reach had suspended their business, or their idleness, to run to the spot and drink the wine.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A large cask of wine had been dropped and broken, in the street.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
irregularadjectiveUS /ɪˈreɡjələr/
not even, smooth, or arranged in a regular pattern
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
joined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
jostling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
kneeled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
lame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large cask of wine had been dropped and broken, in the street.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A large cask of wine had been dropped and broken, in the street.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading All the people within reach had suspended their business, or their idleness, to run to the spot and drink the wine.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the people within reach had suspended their business, or their idleness, to run to the spot and drink the wine.
pointing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
pools
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the people within reach had suspended their business, or their idleness, to run to the spot and drink the wine.
rough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
run
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
scoops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
shattered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
shoulders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
sip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
sipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
size
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
Some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
spot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the people within reach had suspended their business, or their idleness, to run to the spot and drink the wine.
stones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large cask of wine had been dropped and broken, in the street.
surroundedverbUS /səˈraʊndɪd/
was or formed on all sides of someone or something
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
suspended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the people within reach had suspended their business, or their idleness, to run to the spot and drink the wine.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A large cask of wine had been dropped and broken, in the street.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading All the people within reach had suspended their business, or their idleness, to run to the spot and drink the wine.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All the people within reach had suspended their business, or their idleness, to run to the spot and drink the wine.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
tumbled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
walnut-shell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The rough, irregular stones of the street, pointing every way, and designed, one might have thought, expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them, had dammed it into little pools; these were surrounded, each by its own jostling group or crowd, according to its size.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
wine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large cask of wine had been dropped and broken, in the street.
wine-shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart; the cask had tumbled out with a run, the hoops had burst, and it lay on the stones just outside the door of the wine-shop, shattered like a walnut-shell.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading All the people within reach had suspended their business, or their idleness, to run to the spot and drink the wine.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women, who bent over their shoulders, to sip, before the wine had all run out between their fingers.
