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 There had been no rain for a long time, and the whole world began to cry out for the want of it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A long continuance of fair weather, though it fills an Englishman with delight out of his own country, is very embarrassing to him at home.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The first of June was very bright and warm.
ardour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The summer had set in with great ardour and vehemence, not with the vacillation common to English summers.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A long continuance of fair weather, though it fills an Englishman with delight out of his own country, is very embarrassing to him at home.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been no rain for a long time, and the whole world began to cry out for the want of it.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There had been no rain for a long time, and the whole world began to cry out for the want of it.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first of June was very bright and warm.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
cattle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
Channel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
common
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The summer had set in with great ardour and vehemence, not with the vacillation common to English summers.
continuance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A long continuance of fair weather, though it fills an Englishman with delight out of his own country, is very embarrassing to him at home.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A long continuance of fair weather, though it fills an Englishman with delight out of his own country, is very embarrassing to him at home.
crops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
crossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been no rain for a long time, and the whole world began to cry out for the want of it.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
delight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A long continuance of fair weather, though it fills an Englishman with delight out of his own country, is very embarrassing to him at home.
embarrassing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A long continuance of fair weather, though it fills an Englishman with delight out of his own country, is very embarrassing to him at home.
English
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The summer had set in with great ardour and vehemence, not with the vacillation common to English summers.
Englishman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A long continuance of fair weather, though it fills an Englishman with delight out of his own country, is very embarrassing to him at home.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A long continuance of fair weather, though it fills an Englishman with delight out of his own country, is very embarrassing to him at home.
fills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A long continuance of fair weather, though it fills an Englishman with delight out of his own country, is very embarrassing to him at home.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first of June was very bright and warm.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There had been no rain for a long time, and the whole world began to cry out for the want of it.
gets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
grand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The summer had set in with great ardour and vehemence, not with the vacillation common to English summers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The summer had set in with great ardour and vehemence, not with the vacillation common to English summers.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A long continuance of fair weather, though it fills an Englishman with delight out of his own country, is very embarrassing to him at home.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A long continuance of fair weather, though it fills an Englishman with delight out of his own country, is very embarrassing to him at home.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A long continuance of fair weather, though it fills an Englishman with delight out of his own country, is very embarrassing to him at home.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The summer had set in with great ardour and vehemence, not with the vacillation common to English summers.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A long continuance of fair weather, though it fills an Englishman with delight out of his own country, is very embarrassing to him at home.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There had been no rain for a long time, and the whole world began to cry out for the want of it.
June
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first of June was very bright and warm.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There had been no rain for a long time, and the whole world began to cry out for the want of it.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There had been no rain for a long time, and the whole world began to cry out for the want of it.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The summer had set in with great ardour and vehemence, not with the vacillation common to English summers.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The first of June was very bright and warm.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been no rain for a long time, and the whole world began to cry out for the want of it.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A long continuance of fair weather, though it fills an Englishman with delight out of his own country, is very embarrassing to him at home.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been no rain for a long time, and the whole world began to cry out for the want of it.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
self-congratulations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The summer had set in with great ardour and vehemence, not with the vacillation common to English summers.
solemn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
speculating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The summer had set in with great ardour and vehemence, not with the vacillation common to English summers.
summers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The summer had set in with great ardour and vehemence, not with the vacillation common to English summers.
tells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first of June was very bright and warm.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been no rain for a long time, and the whole world began to cry out for the want of it.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading A long continuance of fair weather, though it fills an Englishman with delight out of his own country, is very embarrassing to him at home.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There had been no rain for a long time, and the whole world began to cry out for the want of it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The summer had set in with great ardour and vehemence, not with the vacillation common to English summers.
troubled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
vacillation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The summer had set in with great ardour and vehemence, not with the vacillation common to English summers.
vehemence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The summer had set in with great ardour and vehemence, not with the vacillation common to English summers.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first of June was very bright and warm.
voices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been no rain for a long time, and the whole world began to cry out for the want of it.
warm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first of June was very bright and warm.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first of June was very bright and warm.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
weather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A long continuance of fair weather, though it fills an Englishman with delight out of his own country, is very embarrassing to him at home.
wet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
whereasconjunctionUS /weˈræz/
in contrast with the fact that
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been no rain for a long time, and the whole world began to cry out for the want of it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The summer had set in with great ardour and vehemence, not with the vacillation common to English summers.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been no rain for a long time, and the whole world began to cry out for the want of it.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading He gets troubled in his mind about the crops, about the grass, about the cattle, and tells everybody in the most solemn of voices that “we want rain;” whereas when he has crossed the Channel it is the grand subject of his self-congratulations that you need not be always speculating about wet days, but can really believe in the weather.
