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 had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
acceptably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
afford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was even more humiliating to know he had to do it because he couldn't afford not to.
appeared
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From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
Babs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading It was even more humiliating to know he had to do it because he couldn't afford not to.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
bitterlyadverbUS /ˈbɪtərli/
in a way that shows deep pain or grief
From this reading Then he swore bitterly.
boss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
considered
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From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was even more humiliating to know he had to do it because he couldn't afford not to.
damage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
decks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was even more humiliating to know he had to do it because he couldn't afford not to.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
firm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
gloating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then he swore bitterly.
he'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
humiliating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was even more humiliating to know he had to do it because he couldn't afford not to.
humiliation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
job
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was even more humiliating to know he had to do it because he couldn't afford not to.
lackey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
learning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
magnetic-soled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
mere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
merely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was even more humiliating to know he had to do it because he couldn't afford not to.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was even more humiliating to know he had to do it because he couldn't afford not to.
obviously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
ordered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
partners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
perform
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
personal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
phoney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
platform
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
regard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
responsibleadjectiveUS /rɪˈspɑnsəbəl/
having a duty to protect or manage something
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
satisfaction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
services
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
slippers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
son-in-law
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
space
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
steel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
swore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he swore bitterly.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he swore bitterly.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
walking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Babs appeared, obviously gloating over the mere fact that she was walking in magnetic-soled slippers on the steel decks of the space platform.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was humiliation to be considered merely a lackey who could be ordered to perform personal services for his boss, without regard to the damage to the work he was really responsible for.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been taken off the job he'd spent years learning to do acceptably, to phoney a personal satisfaction for the son-in-law of one of the partners of the firm he worked for.
