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 Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
agreeable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
ahoy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
allusions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
America
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
attend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
BELGIUM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LECTURE ON BELGIUM.
board
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
boatswainnounUS /ˈboʊsən/
an officer responsible for deck crew and equipment
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
bravery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
civil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
communicated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
conflict
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
contained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
descriptions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
desirousadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪərəs/
having a strong wish to do or obtain something
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
devotion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
Dutch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
effect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
eloquent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
England
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
familiar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
geography
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
history
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
Holland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
information
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
inhabitants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
instance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
Josephine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
knowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
LECTURE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LECTURE ON BELGIUM.
listen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
Many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
meagre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
Motley's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
music
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE LECTURE ON BELGIUM.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
Ordinarily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
principle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
regard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
robbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
school-books
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
Scotland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
shoutednounUS /shouted/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
signal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
Spaniards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
students
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
stupid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LECTURE ON BELGIUM.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The information communicated in regard to England and Scotland was so familiar to them that it was robbed of its interest; but the school-books contained only very meagre allusions to Holland and Belgium.
voted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
wars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ordinarily this call was not an agreeable one; for the students had voted that it was "dull music" to listen to a stupid lecture on geography and history; but in the present instance it was not so.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Many of them had read Mr. Motley's eloquent descriptions of the bravery and devotion to principle of the Dutch people in their civil wars and in their terrible conflict with the Spaniards, and they were desirous of knowing more about the country and its inhabitants.
Young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "All hands, attend lecture on board ship, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain of the Josephine, as the signal to this effect appeared on the Young America.
