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 "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
absurd
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From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
artist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the gorgeous colors of our autumnal scenery were faithfully transferred to canvas, the artist would be considered a glaring, tasteless burlesquer.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
autumnal
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From this reading If the gorgeous colors of our autumnal scenery were faithfully transferred to canvas, the artist would be considered a glaring, tasteless burlesquer.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
BothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both artist and novelist must learn to 'tone down' their pictures; but as my story is not for the critic's ear, but for yours, John, I shall tell it verbatim.
burlesquer
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From this reading If the gorgeous colors of our autumnal scenery were faithfully transferred to canvas, the artist would be considered a glaring, tasteless burlesquer.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Both artist and novelist must learn to 'tone down' their pictures; but as my story is not for the critic's ear, but for yours, John, I shall tell it verbatim.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
canvas
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From this reading If the gorgeous colors of our autumnal scenery were faithfully transferred to canvas, the artist would be considered a glaring, tasteless burlesquer.
charges
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From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
closely
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From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
colors
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From this reading If the gorgeous colors of our autumnal scenery were faithfully transferred to canvas, the artist would be considered a glaring, tasteless burlesquer.
considered
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From this reading If the gorgeous colors of our autumnal scenery were faithfully transferred to canvas, the artist would be considered a glaring, tasteless burlesquer.
critic's
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From this reading Both artist and novelist must learn to 'tone down' their pictures; but as my story is not for the critic's ear, but for yours, John, I shall tell it verbatim.
day
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From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
down
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From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
ear
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From this reading Both artist and novelist must learn to 'tone down' their pictures; but as my story is not for the critic's ear, but for yours, John, I shall tell it verbatim.
faithfully
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From this reading If the gorgeous colors of our autumnal scenery were faithfully transferred to canvas, the artist would be considered a glaring, tasteless burlesquer.
follow
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From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Both artist and novelist must learn to 'tone down' their pictures; but as my story is not for the critic's ear, but for yours, John, I shall tell it verbatim.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
Gertrude
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From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
glaring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the gorgeous colors of our autumnal scenery were faithfully transferred to canvas, the artist would be considered a glaring, tasteless burlesquer.
gorgeous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the gorgeous colors of our autumnal scenery were faithfully transferred to canvas, the artist would be considered a glaring, tasteless burlesquer.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
history
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Both artist and novelist must learn to 'tone down' their pictures; but as my story is not for the critic's ear, but for yours, John, I shall tell it verbatim.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the gorgeous colors of our autumnal scenery were faithfully transferred to canvas, the artist would be considered a glaring, tasteless burlesquer.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
incredible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
learn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both artist and novelist must learn to 'tone down' their pictures; but as my story is not for the critic's ear, but for yours, John, I shall tell it verbatim.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Both artist and novelist must learn to 'tone down' their pictures; but as my story is not for the critic's ear, but for yours, John, I shall tell it verbatim.
Nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
novel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
novelist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If the gorgeous colors of our autumnal scenery were faithfully transferred to canvas, the artist would be considered a glaring, tasteless burlesquer.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading If the gorgeous colors of our autumnal scenery were faithfully transferred to canvas, the artist would be considered a glaring, tasteless burlesquer.
overdrawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
pictures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both artist and novelist must learn to 'tone down' their pictures; but as my story is not for the critic's ear, but for yours, John, I shall tell it verbatim.
Rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
scenery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the gorgeous colors of our autumnal scenery were faithfully transferred to canvas, the artist would be considered a glaring, tasteless burlesquer.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading Both artist and novelist must learn to 'tone down' their pictures; but as my story is not for the critic's ear, but for yours, John, I shall tell it verbatim.
singular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
Sit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
stigmatized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both artist and novelist must learn to 'tone down' their pictures; but as my story is not for the critic's ear, but for yours, John, I shall tell it verbatim.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
tasteless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the gorgeous colors of our autumnal scenery were faithfully transferred to canvas, the artist would be considered a glaring, tasteless burlesquer.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Both artist and novelist must learn to 'tone down' their pictures; but as my story is not for the critic's ear, but for yours, John, I shall tell it verbatim.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
tone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both artist and novelist must learn to 'tone down' their pictures; but as my story is not for the critic's ear, but for yours, John, I shall tell it verbatim.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
transferred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the gorgeous colors of our autumnal scenery were faithfully transferred to canvas, the artist would be considered a glaring, tasteless burlesquer.
truth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
verbatim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both artist and novelist must learn to 'tone down' their pictures; but as my story is not for the critic's ear, but for yours, John, I shall tell it verbatim.
VINCENT'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading VINCENT'S HISTORY.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If the gorgeous colors of our autumnal scenery were faithfully transferred to canvas, the artist would be considered a glaring, tasteless burlesquer.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "His history is so singular," said Gertrude, "that in a novel it would be stigmatized as incredible, overdrawn, and absurd; in truth, a novelist who would not subject himself to such charges must not too closely follow Nature.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Sit down by me--tell me what you have learned from Rose," said John, the next day to his sister.
yourspronounUS /jʊrz/
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading Both artist and novelist must learn to 'tone down' their pictures; but as my story is not for the critic's ear, but for yours, John, I shall tell it verbatim.