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 THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
advanced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
Any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
COLLEGE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
conservative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
considerable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, you've growed considerable.
deal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
erudition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.
Gordon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
growed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, you've growed considerable.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
impart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
innovation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
learning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
Locrians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.
manifestly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.
neck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
patrons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
pleasednounUS /ˈpleased/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.
possibly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
predecessors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
preside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
product
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
proposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
proved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
pupils
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
reported
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.
RIDGE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
rope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
schoolmaster's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
seminary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
squire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.
system
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
teacher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
undertaken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
unsuccessful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, you've growed considerable.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
woe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
you've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, you've growed considerable.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.