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 It was all very well to wait a while to be cured of the dread disease; but to wait three or four years--that was simply preposterous!
advice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
all
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From this reading It was all very well to wait a while to be cured of the dread disease; but to wait three or four years--that was simply preposterous!
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He decided to consult another physician.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
certainty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
consult
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From this reading He decided to consult another physician.
cured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was all very well to wait a while to be cured of the dread disease; but to wait three or four years--that was simply preposterous!
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He decided to consult another physician.
decision
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From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
definite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
difficult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand were vague and uncertain possibilities which it was difficult for him to make real to himself.
disease
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was all very well to wait a while to be cured of the dread disease; but to wait three or four years--that was simply preposterous!
doctor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
doubt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
dread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was all very well to wait a while to be cured of the dread disease; but to wait three or four years--that was simply preposterous!
Dupont
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From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On the other hand were vague and uncertain possibilities which it was difficult for him to make real to himself.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was all very well to wait a while to be cured of the dread disease; but to wait three or four years--that was simply preposterous!
George
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On the other hand were vague and uncertain possibilities which it was difficult for him to make real to himself.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading On the other hand were vague and uncertain possibilities which it was difficult for him to make real to himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
important
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading On the other hand were vague and uncertain possibilities which it was difficult for him to make real to himself.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
lose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
loved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the other hand were vague and uncertain possibilities which it was difficult for him to make real to himself.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was all very well to wait a while to be cured of the dread disease; but to wait three or four years--that was simply preposterous!
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand were vague and uncertain possibilities which it was difficult for him to make real to himself.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
physician
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He decided to consult another physician.
possibilities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand were vague and uncertain possibilities which it was difficult for him to make real to himself.
preposterous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was all very well to wait a while to be cured of the dread disease; but to wait three or four years--that was simply preposterous!
prospects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand were vague and uncertain possibilities which it was difficult for him to make real to himself.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was all very well to wait a while to be cured of the dread disease; but to wait three or four years--that was simply preposterous!
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was all very well to wait a while to be cured of the dread disease; but to wait three or four years--that was simply preposterous!
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
uncertain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand were vague and uncertain possibilities which it was difficult for him to make real to himself.
vague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand were vague and uncertain possibilities which it was difficult for him to make real to himself.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
wait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was all very well to wait a while to be cured of the dread disease; but to wait three or four years--that was simply preposterous!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was all very well to wait a while to be cured of the dread disease; but to wait three or four years--that was simply preposterous!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On the other hand were vague and uncertain possibilities which it was difficult for him to make real to himself.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On the other hand were vague and uncertain possibilities which it was difficult for him to make real to himself.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It was all very well to wait a while to be cured of the dread disease; but to wait three or four years--that was simply preposterous!
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading George Dupont had the most important decision of his life to make; but there was never very much doubt what his decision would be.
wreck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One the one hand was the definite certainty that if he took the doctor’s advice, he would wreck his business prospects, and perhaps also lose the woman he loved.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was all very well to wait a while to be cured of the dread disease; but to wait three or four years--that was simply preposterous!
