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 became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
accustomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
age
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From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
all
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From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
asserted
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From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
became
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From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
circle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
clerk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
commercial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
daughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
detailsnounUS /ˈdetails/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
dying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
eldest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
engaged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
freely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
generally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
House
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
husband's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
labours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
Mackenzie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
minds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
pursuits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
reader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
Scotland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
service
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
sixteen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
sixty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
Somerset
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
sons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
telling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
Thomas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
trade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
wont
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
