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 choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
accommodation
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From this reading There was no difficulty in obtaining accommodation at another hotel.
adopt
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From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
always
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From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
ambitious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before our marriage I had confided my ambitious schemes to Barbara.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading There was no difficulty in obtaining accommodation at another hotel.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was no difficulty in obtaining accommodation at another hotel.
Barbara
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From this reading Before our marriage I had confided my ambitious schemes to Barbara.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before our marriage I had confided my ambitious schemes to Barbara.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
capital
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
choice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
confided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before our marriage I had confided my ambitious schemes to Barbara.
days
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From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
Delightful
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From this reading "Delightful!" she exclaimed.
difficulty
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From this reading There was no difficulty in obtaining accommodation at another hotel.
down
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From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
enough
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From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
exclaimed
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From this reading "Delightful!" she exclaimed.
fiction
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From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no difficulty in obtaining accommodation at another hotel.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
idleness
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From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was no difficulty in obtaining accommodation at another hotel.
inclination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
intended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
intentions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
literature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
makings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
manuscriptnounUS /ˈmæn.jə.skrɪpt/
A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
marriage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before our marriage I had confided my ambitious schemes to Barbara.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was no difficulty in obtaining accommodation at another hotel.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
novelist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
obtaining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no difficulty in obtaining accommodation at another hotel.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Before our marriage I had confided my ambitious schemes to Barbara.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
particular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
profession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
rested
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From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
schemes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before our marriage I had confided my ambitious schemes to Barbara.
scruple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
settled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Delightful!" she exclaimed.
skeleton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
spendingnounUS /ˈspending/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
terms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no difficulty in obtaining accommodation at another hotel.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
vain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no difficulty in obtaining accommodation at another hotel.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The choice rested with me, for I was not particular as to terms, I had no scruple in spending part of my capital, my intentions having always been to adopt a profession, and not to pass my days in idleness.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My inclination was for literature; I was vain enough to believe that I had in me the makings of a novelist, and I had already in manuscript the skeleton of a work of fiction upon which I intended to set to work when I was settled down in life.
