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 But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
able
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From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
always
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From this reading I had always been proud of my country, of course.
America
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From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I had always been proud of my country, of course.
best
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From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
bring
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From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
clear-eyed
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From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
closer
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From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
Compared
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From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
continually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
country
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From this reading I had always been proud of my country, of course.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had always been proud of my country, of course.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
discussion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
efforts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
evading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
EveryonepronounUS /ˈevriwʌn/
every person
From this reading Everyone is.
fairly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
frequently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
general
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
given
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From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had always been proud of my country, of course.
history
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑnɪst/
truthful and trustworthy
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had always been proud of my country, of course.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
innocent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
intelligent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Everyone is.
jar
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From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
lands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
language
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
lot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
malice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
modestly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I had always been proud of my country, of course.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I had always been proud of my country, of course.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
ourspronounUS /ˈaʊərz/
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
outlines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
perfectly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
points
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
press
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
proficient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
proud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had always been proud of my country, of course.
questions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
races
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
satire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
self-esteem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
slightest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
speaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
States
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
United
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
well-meaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now that we were fairly proficient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had given them the general outlines of ours, they were able to press their questions closer.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Compared with the other lands and other races I knew, the United States of America had always seemed to me, speaking modestly, as good as the best of them.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just as a clear-eyed, intelligent, perfectly honest, and well-meaning child will frequently jar one’s self-esteem by innocent questions, so did these women, without the slightest appearance of malice or satire, continually bring up points of discussion which we spent our best efforts in evading.
