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 “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
age
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As to your verses, pray read them to your contemporaries.
attend
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From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
barter
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From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
breaking
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From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
button
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From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
care
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From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
certain
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From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
cold
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From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
contemporaries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to your verses, pray read them to your contemporaries.
criednounUS /cried/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
debts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
encumbrances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/
to think that something will happen
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
faces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
force
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
generation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
GentlemennounUS /gentlemen/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
icy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
impediments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
likewise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
loose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
method
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
misty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
moral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
names
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
national
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
native
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
otherwise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
owe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
path
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
physical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
poet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
posterity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
pray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to your verses, pray read them to your contemporaries.
recompense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
remove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
retain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
strove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
surest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As to your verses, pray read them to your contemporaries.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
troublesome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
truly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
verses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to your verses, pray read them to your contemporaries.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
whereby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I expect to owe you nothing, unless it be certain national debts, and other encumbrances and impediments, physical and moral, which I shall find it troublesome enough to remove from my path.
whisper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Your names are as strange to me as your faces; and even were it otherwise,—let me whisper you a secret,—the cold, icy memory which one generation may retain of another is but a poor recompense to barter life for.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
wisely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet, if your heart is set on being known to me, the surest, the only method is, to live truly and wisely for your own age, whereby, if the native force be in you, you may likewise live for posterity.”
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Gentlemen, my good friends,” cried he, breaking loose from a misty poet who strove to hold him by the button, “I pray you to attend to your own business, and leave me to take care of mine!