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 Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
absurd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
afflicts
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From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
all
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From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
ask
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From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
babies
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From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
child-man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
chin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
compound
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From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
conscious
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From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
consequence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
cradle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
cunning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
curiosity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
curious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
excuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.
experience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
faces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.
fellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.
furnish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
humiliation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
lap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
match
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
nose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
object
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
old-men's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
peaked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
Perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
physical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
pinchednounUS /ˈpinched/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
pity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
possessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.
questions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
returns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
shrewd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
signs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.
speculation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
sprawling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading You are conscious that you are no match, except in physical strength, for the little fellow lying in his mother's lap or sprawling in his cradle; and a curious compound of pity and humiliation afflicts you in consequence.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
twinkle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
unbought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
wisdom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
worldly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Perhaps one of the most absurd questions that could be put to a person would be to ask him how old he was when he was born.
wrinkles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet the little old-men's faces possessed by some babies might furnish an excuse for such a question.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The shrewd look, the cunning twinkle, the pinched nose, the peaked chin, the very wrinkles--you see them all, though the child be but a few weeks old.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
yourspronounUS /jʊrz/
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading All the signs of worldly cunning and worldly wisdom are there, ready made, unbought by worldly experience; and as you look at them and wonder how old the little child-man really is, the object of your curiosity returns your look with scarcely less speculation in his eye than you have in yours.
