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 “My only reality was a bound volume; and now they will not leave me even a shadowy pamphlet!”
ages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “My only reality was a bound volume; and now they will not leave me even a shadowy pamphlet!”
anxiously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, and does anything remain to be done?” inquired I, somewhat anxiously.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading “Well, and does anything remain to be done?” inquired I, somewhat anxiously.
authors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Well, and does anything remain to be done?” inquired I, somewhat anxiously.
blazing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading “O, my books, my books, my precious printed books!” reiterated the forlorn bookworm.
bookworm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “O, my books, my books, my precious printed books!” reiterated the forlorn bookworm.
bound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My only reality was a bound volume; and now they will not leave me even a shadowy pamphlet!”
Cadmus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
cloud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
consumed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
descending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Well, and does anything remain to be done?” inquired I, somewhat anxiously.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Well, and does anything remain to be done?” inquired I, somewhat anxiously.
earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
enviable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “My only reality was a bound volume; and now they will not leave me even a shadowy pamphlet!”
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
field
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
forlorn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “O, my books, my books, my precious printed books!” reiterated the forlorn bookworm.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
generation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
heap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Well, and does anything remain to be done?” inquired I, somewhat anxiously.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
inquirednounUS /ˈinquired/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Well, and does anything remain to be done?” inquired I, somewhat anxiously.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My only reality was a bound volume; and now they will not leave me even a shadowy pamphlet!”
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
likewise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
literature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “My only reality was a bound volume; and now they will not leave me even a shadowy pamphlet!”
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “O, my books, my books, my precious printed books!” reiterated the forlorn bookworm.
New
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “My only reality was a bound volume; and now they will not leave me even a shadowy pamphlet!”
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My only reality was a bound volume; and now they will not leave me even a shadowy pamphlet!”
O
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “O, my books, my books, my precious printed books!” reiterated the forlorn bookworm.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My only reality was a bound volume; and now they will not leave me even a shadowy pamphlet!”
pamphlet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My only reality was a bound volume; and now they will not leave me even a shadowy pamphlet!”
pamphlets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
plague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/
rare and worth a great deal
From this reading “O, my books, my books, my precious printed books!” reiterated the forlorn bookworm.
press
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
printednounUS /printed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “O, my books, my books, my precious printed books!” reiterated the forlorn bookworm.
reality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My only reality was a bound volume; and now they will not leave me even a shadowy pamphlet!”
reiterated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “O, my books, my books, my precious printed books!” reiterated the forlorn bookworm.
remain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, and does anything remain to be done?” inquired I, somewhat anxiously.
remnant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
shadowy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My only reality was a bound volume; and now they will not leave me even a shadowy pamphlet!”
shape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, and does anything remain to be done?” inquired I, somewhat anxiously.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “O, my books, my books, my precious printed books!” reiterated the forlorn bookworm.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “My only reality was a bound volume; and now they will not leave me even a shadowy pamphlet!”
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Well, and does anything remain to be done?” inquired I, somewhat anxiously.
twinkling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
volume
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My only reality was a bound volume; and now they will not leave me even a shadowy pamphlet!”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “My only reality was a bound volume; and now they will not leave me even a shadowy pamphlet!”
Well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, and does anything remain to be done?” inquired I, somewhat anxiously.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These likewise were consumed in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the earth, for the first time since the days of Cadmus, free from the plague of letters,—an enviable field for the authors of the next generation.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “My only reality was a bound volume; and now they will not leave me even a shadowy pamphlet!”
World
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, the last remnant of the literature of all the ages was now descending upon the blazing heap in the shape of a cloud of pamphlets from the press of the New World.
