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 That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
accident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
act
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
assert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
basis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do not think that the commercial spirit which is the basis of your life and cities here is opposed to art.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
beautiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who built the beautiful cities of the world but commercial men and commercial men only?
beauty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
built
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who built the beautiful cities of the world but commercial men and commercial men only?
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
cities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do not think that the commercial spirit which is the basis of your life and cities here is opposed to art.
civilised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
commercial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do not think that the commercial spirit which is the basis of your life and cities here is opposed to art.
content
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Do not think that the commercial spirit which is the basis of your life and cities here is opposed to art.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Do not think that the commercial spirit which is the basis of your life and cities here is opposed to art.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
mere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
necessity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
nonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Do not think that the commercial spirit which is the basis of your life and cities here is opposed to art.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who built the beautiful cities of the world but commercial men and commercial men only?
opposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do not think that the commercial spirit which is the basis of your life and cities here is opposed to art.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
positive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
spirit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do not think that the commercial spirit which is the basis of your life and cities here is opposed to art.
supposenounUS /ˈsuppose/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Do not think that the commercial spirit which is the basis of your life and cities here is opposed to art.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
venture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For that beauty which is meant by art is no mere accident of human life which people can take or leave, but a positive necessity of life if we are to live as nature meant us to, that is to say unless we are content to be less than men.
WhopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Who built the beautiful cities of the world but commercial men and commercial men only?
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who built the beautiful cities of the world but commercial men and commercial men only?
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading That the beauty of life is a thing of no moment, I suppose few people would venture to assert.
wronging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet most civilised people act as if it were of none, and in so doing are wronging both themselves and those that are to come after them.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Do not think that the commercial spirit which is the basis of your life and cities here is opposed to art.
