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 Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
alasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading But alas, such hopes were not for Jimmie!
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He found himself a job in the railroad shops; but in a couple of weeks came an organizer, trying to start a union in the place.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
auction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
bicycle-shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
bit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
bought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But alas, such hopes were not for Jimmie!
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found himself a job in the railroad shops; but in a couple of weeks came an organizer, trying to start a union in the place.
condition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
contents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
continue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/
two people or things considered together
From this reading He found himself a job in the railroad shops; but in a couple of weeks came an organizer, trying to start a union in the place.
described
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But alas, such hopes were not for Jimmie!
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He found himself a job in the railroad shops; but in a couple of weeks came an organizer, trying to start a union in the place.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
HIGGINS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He found himself a job in the railroad shops; but in a couple of weeks came an organizer, trying to start a union in the place.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
hopes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But alas, such hopes were not for Jimmie!
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
industrial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
JIMMIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
job
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found himself a job in the railroad shops; but in a couple of weeks came an organizer, trying to start a union in the place.
Kumme's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
mercy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
NATURE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
normal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
organizer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found himself a job in the railroad shops; but in a couple of weeks came an organizer, trying to start a union in the place.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found himself a job in the railroad shops; but in a couple of weeks came an organizer, trying to start a union in the place.
President
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
process
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
profit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
railroad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found himself a job in the railroad shops; but in a couple of weeks came an organizer, trying to start a union in the place.
reflecting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
remain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
RETURNS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
savednounUS /saved/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
serfdom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
shops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found himself a job in the railroad shops; but in a couple of weeks came an organizer, trying to start a union in the place.
Socialist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
sold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
startnounUS /start/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
substancenounUS /ˈsʌbstəns/
wealth or financial means
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But alas, such hopes were not for Jimmie!
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
tracts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found himself a job in the railroad shops; but in a couple of weeks came an organizer, trying to start a union in the place.
union
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found himself a job in the railroad shops; but in a couple of weeks came an organizer, trying to start a union in the place.
wagesplural nounUS /ˈweɪdʒɪz/
money or a reward earned for work
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
wasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found himself a job in the railroad shops; but in a couple of weeks came an organizer, trying to start a union in the place.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS RETURNS TO NATURE I Kumme's bicycle-shop went out of business, and its contents were sold at auction.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
whim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
wistfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmie Higgins watched the process wistfully, reflecting how, if he had not wasted his substance on Socialist tracts, if he had saved a bit of his wages like any normal human being, he might have bought this little business and got a start in life.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must remain in the condition which the President of his country described as “industrial serfdom”; he must continue to work for some other man's profit, to be at the mercy of some other man's whim.
