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 The one thing he had got was a clue to some worthwhile books; he wanted to read them—but you could do that better at home.
afraid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was debating whether he would come back next year.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one thing he had got was a clue to some worthwhile books; he wanted to read them—but you could do that better at home.
bloom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the bloom was now worn off the peach; he no longer took the great institution at its own valuation.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading The one thing he had got was a clue to some worthwhile books; he wanted to read them—but you could do that better at home.
Bunny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the bloom was now worn off the peach; he no longer took the great institution at its own valuation.
clue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one thing he had got was a clue to some worthwhile books; he wanted to read them—but you could do that better at home.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The one thing he had got was a clue to some worthwhile books; he wanted to read them—but you could do that better at home.
courses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
debating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was debating whether he would come back next year.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The one thing he had got was a clue to some worthwhile books; he wanted to read them—but you could do that better at home.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
facts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
finishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one thing he had got was a clue to some worthwhile books; he wanted to read them—but you could do that better at home.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the bloom was now worn off the peach; he no longer took the great institution at its own valuation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But the bloom was now worn off the peach; he no longer took the great institution at its own valuation.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one thing he had got was a clue to some worthwhile books; he wanted to read them—but you could do that better at home.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
importance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
institution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the bloom was now worn off the peach; he no longer took the great institution at its own valuation.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But the bloom was now worn off the peach; he no longer took the great institution at its own valuation.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the bloom was now worn off the peach; he no longer took the great institution at its own valuation.
masses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was debating whether he would come back next year.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But the bloom was now worn off the peach; he no longer took the great institution at its own valuation.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the bloom was now worn off the peach; he no longer took the great institution at its own valuation.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the bloom was now worn off the peach; he no longer took the great institution at its own valuation.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The one thing he had got was a clue to some worthwhile books; he wanted to read them—but you could do that better at home.
original
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the bloom was now worn off the peach; he no longer took the great institution at its own valuation.
Pacific
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
peachverbUS /piːtʃ/
inform against or betray someone
From this reading But the bloom was now worn off the peach; he no longer took the great institution at its own valuation.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one thing he had got was a clue to some worthwhile books; he wanted to read them—but you could do that better at home.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
SIREN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one thing he had got was a clue to some worthwhile books; he wanted to read them—but you could do that better at home.
Southern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
Springtime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
taught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The one thing he had got was a clue to some worthwhile books; he wanted to read them—but you could do that better at home.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The one thing he had got was a clue to some worthwhile books; he wanted to read them—but you could do that better at home.
thinkingnounUS /thinking/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The one thing he had got was a clue to some worthwhile books; he wanted to read them—but you could do that better at home.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the bloom was now worn off the peach; he no longer took the great institution at its own valuation.
valuation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the bloom was now worn off the peach; he no longer took the great institution at its own valuation.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one thing he had got was a clue to some worthwhile books; he wanted to read them—but you could do that better at home.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading He was debating whether he would come back next year.
wornverbUS /wɔːrn/
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading But the bloom was now worn off the peach; he no longer took the great institution at its own valuation.
worthwhile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one thing he had got was a clue to some worthwhile books; he wanted to read them—but you could do that better at home.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was debating whether he would come back next year.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SIREN I Springtime had come again, and Bunny was finishing his second year at Southern Pacific.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.
