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 He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
abundantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
all
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From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
apply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
broke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
colour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
comfortable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
disillusionment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
efficiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
enlistment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
expeditiously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
explosives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
fluctuated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
Germans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
gunnery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
guns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
humourless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
immediate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.
intensity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
killing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
learning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
liked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
mathematical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.
mathematics
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
pure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.
rapidly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
repudiation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.
shells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
thoroughly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
tragedy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
tripos
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.
useful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
utter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.
warrior
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.
Wilmington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.
working
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
youth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.
