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 "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
accomplishment
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From this reading She was an experienced equestrian,--a necessary accomplishment at that period, when vehicles of every kind were rare.
afforded
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From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
afternoons
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From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
all
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From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was an experienced equestrian,--a necessary accomplishment at that period, when vehicles of every kind were rare.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was now the latter end of spring; but the season had hitherto been backward, with only a few warm and pleasant days.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was an experienced equestrian,--a necessary accomplishment at that period, when vehicles of every kind were rare.
attended
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From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
backward
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From this reading It was now the latter end of spring; but the season had hitherto been backward, with only a few warm and pleasant days.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was now the latter end of spring; but the season had hitherto been backward, with only a few warm and pleasant days.
blind
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From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
book
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From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
bridle-roads
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From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
cavalier
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From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
days
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From this reading It was now the latter end of spring; but the season had hitherto been backward, with only a few warm and pleasant days.
delights
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From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
dothauxiliary verbUS /dɔːθ/
an old form of “does”
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
Ellen
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From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
end
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From this reading It was now the latter end of spring; but the season had hitherto been backward, with only a few warm and pleasant days.
equestrian
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From this reading She was an experienced equestrian,--a necessary accomplishment at that period, when vehicles of every kind were rare.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading She was an experienced equestrian,--a necessary accomplishment at that period, when vehicles of every kind were rare.
excursion
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From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
experienced
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From this reading She was an experienced equestrian,--a necessary accomplishment at that period, when vehicles of every kind were rare.
eyesight
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From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
falsely
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From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
few
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From this reading It was now the latter end of spring; but the season had hitherto been backward, with only a few warm and pleasant days.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was now the latter end of spring; but the season had hitherto been backward, with only a few warm and pleasant days.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
hitherto
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From this reading It was now the latter end of spring; but the season had hitherto been backward, with only a few warm and pleasant days.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
inherit
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From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was now the latter end of spring; but the season had hitherto been backward, with only a few warm and pleasant days.
kind
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From this reading She was an experienced equestrian,--a necessary accomplishment at that period, when vehicles of every kind were rare.
labors
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From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
latter
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From this reading It was now the latter end of spring; but the season had hitherto been backward, with only a few warm and pleasant days.
led
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From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
light
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From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
most
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From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
necessary
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From this reading She was an experienced equestrian,--a necessary accomplishment at that period, when vehicles of every kind were rare.
new
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From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was now the latter end of spring; but the season had hitherto been backward, with only a few warm and pleasant days.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was now the latter end of spring; but the season had hitherto been backward, with only a few warm and pleasant days.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
pain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
painfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
period
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was an experienced equestrian,--a necessary accomplishment at that period, when vehicles of every kind were rare.
pleasantnounUS /pleasant/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was now the latter end of spring; but the season had hitherto been backward, with only a few warm and pleasant days.
pore
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From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
purchased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
rare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was an experienced equestrian,--a necessary accomplishment at that period, when vehicles of every kind were rare.
relaxation
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From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
residence
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From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
rough
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From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
season
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was now the latter end of spring; but the season had hitherto been backward, with only a few warm and pleasant days.
seek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
SHAKESPEARE
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From this reading SHAKESPEARE.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was an experienced equestrian,--a necessary accomplishment at that period, when vehicles of every kind were rare.
spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was now the latter end of spring; but the season had hitherto been backward, with only a few warm and pleasant days.
students
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
truth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
usual
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From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
vain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
vehicles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was an experienced equestrian,--a necessary accomplishment at that period, when vehicles of every kind were rare.
warm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was now the latter end of spring; but the season had hitherto been backward, with only a few warm and pleasant days.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On one of the afternoons which afforded to the students a relaxation from their usual labors, Ellen was attended by her cavalier in a little excursion over the rough bridle-roads that led from her new residence.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She was an experienced equestrian,--a necessary accomplishment at that period, when vehicles of every kind were rare.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading She was an experienced equestrian,--a necessary accomplishment at that period, when vehicles of every kind were rare.
WhichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain, Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain: As painfully to pore upon a book To seek the light of truth, while truth, the while, Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look."
