Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
1813
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading My knowledge of the English language had marked me out for a certain employment.
accident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
bear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My English, which had brought me into that scrape, now helped me very materially to bear it.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading My English, which had brought me into that scrape, now helped me very materially to bear it.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
cast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
Castle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My knowledge of the English language had marked me out for a certain employment.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
conceive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
disgusting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
Edinburgh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
employment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My knowledge of the English language had marked me out for a certain employment.
enemy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
English
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My knowledge of the English language had marked me out for a certain employment.
extraordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
fall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
fellow-sufferers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
fellows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading My knowledge of the English language had marked me out for a certain employment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading My knowledge of the English language had marked me out for a certain employment.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
hanged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
helped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My English, which had brought me into that scrape, now helped me very materially to bear it.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
ignorantnounUS /ˈignorant/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
incur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My knowledge of the English language had marked me out for a certain employment.
language
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My knowledge of the English language had marked me out for a certain employment.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
marked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My knowledge of the English language had marked me out for a certain employment.
materially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My English, which had brought me into that scrape, now helped me very materially to bear it.
Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My knowledge of the English language had marked me out for a certain employment.
midst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
month
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My knowledge of the English language had marked me out for a certain employment.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My English, which had brought me into that scrape, now helped me very materially to bear it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My knowledge of the English language had marked me out for a certain employment.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
plain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
prisoner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
privates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
refusing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
relievednounUS /ˈrelieved/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
risk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
rock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
scrape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My English, which had brought me into that scrape, now helped me very materially to bear it.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
soldier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
spy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
summit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
unlucky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last into the hands of the enemy.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading My English, which had brought me into that scrape, now helped me very materially to bear it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Though I cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.