Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
afloat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not because I have any difficulty in remembering what took place.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Not because I have any difficulty in remembering what took place.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
BURR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BURR PRINTING HOUSE, NEW YORK.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
Certain
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From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
commence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that, in spite of the pleasure I have in recalling the memories of past years, it is with great diffidence that I at last commence my work.
confess
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From this reading I must confess that, in spite of the pleasure I have in recalling the memories of past years, it is with great diffidence that I at last commence my work.
difficulty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not because I have any difficulty in remembering what took place.
diffidence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that, in spite of the pleasure I have in recalling the memories of past years, it is with great diffidence that I at last commence my work.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
events
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I must confess that, in spite of the pleasure I have in recalling the memories of past years, it is with great diffidence that I at last commence my work.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
history
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
HOUSE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BURR PRINTING HOUSE, NEW YORK.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I must confess that, in spite of the pleasure I have in recalling the memories of past years, it is with great diffidence that I at last commence my work.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/
Recollections of past events.
From this reading I must confess that, in spite of the pleasure I have in recalling the memories of past years, it is with great diffidence that I at last commence my work.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I must confess that, in spite of the pleasure I have in recalling the memories of past years, it is with great diffidence that I at last commence my work.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
NEW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BURR PRINTING HOUSE, NEW YORK.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not because I have any difficulty in remembering what took place.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that, in spite of the pleasure I have in recalling the memories of past years, it is with great diffidence that I at last commence my work.
people's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not because I have any difficulty in remembering what took place.
plain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
pleasure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that, in spite of the pleasure I have in recalling the memories of past years, it is with great diffidence that I at last commence my work.
PRINTING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BURR PRINTING HOUSE, NEW YORK.
recalling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that, in spite of the pleasure I have in recalling the memories of past years, it is with great diffidence that I at last commence my work.
remembering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not because I have any difficulty in remembering what took place.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
spite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that, in spite of the pleasure I have in recalling the memories of past years, it is with great diffidence that I at last commence my work.
stories
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
terms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I must confess that, in spite of the pleasure I have in recalling the memories of past years, it is with great diffidence that I at last commence my work.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
tongues
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not because I have any difficulty in remembering what took place.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
urged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
wagging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Not because I have any difficulty in remembering what took place.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Certain stories have been afloat, which are anything but true, and it has been urged upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
wish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I must confess that, in spite of the pleasure I have in recalling the memories of past years, it is with great diffidence that I at last commence my work.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that, in spite of the pleasure I have in recalling the memories of past years, it is with great diffidence that I at last commence my work.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am writing this story at the wish of many friends, who tell me it is my duty so to do.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that, in spite of the pleasure I have in recalling the memories of past years, it is with great diffidence that I at last commence my work.
YORK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BURR PRINTING HOUSE, NEW YORK.
