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 Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His companion picked it out of his hand and examined it with the eye of an expert.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Indeed you are wrong,” John answered, smiling; “I never cut one before in my life.”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Indeed you are wrong,” John answered, smiling; “I never cut one before in my life.”
automatically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
bark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Indeed you are wrong,” John answered, smiling; “I never cut one before in my life.”
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “This is not the first cork which you have cut by many a hundred, Mr. Hardy,” he remarked.
companion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His companion picked it out of his hand and examined it with the eye of an expert.
cork
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
cut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is not the first cork which you have cut by many a hundred, Mr. Hardy,” he remarked.
cuts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
deft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
England
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
examined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His companion picked it out of his hand and examined it with the eye of an expert.
expert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His companion picked it out of his hand and examined it with the eye of an expert.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His companion picked it out of his hand and examined it with the eye of an expert.
factory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
fashioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
firm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “This is not the first cork which you have cut by many a hundred, Mr. Hardy,” he remarked.
foreman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His companion picked it out of his hand and examined it with the eye of an expert.
Hardy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is not the first cork which you have cut by many a hundred, Mr. Hardy,” he remarked.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “This is not the first cork which you have cut by many a hundred, Mr. Hardy,” he remarked.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is not the first cork which you have cut by many a hundred, Mr. Hardy,” he remarked.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Indeed you are wrong,” John answered, smiling; “I never cut one before in my life.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
Indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Indeed you are wrong,” John answered, smiling; “I never cut one before in my life.”
interests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “This is not the first cork which you have cut by many a hundred, Mr. Hardy,” he remarked.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
journeynounUS /ˈjourney/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
knowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Indeed you are wrong,” John answered, smiling; “I never cut one before in my life.”
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is not the first cork which you have cut by many a hundred, Mr. Hardy,” he remarked.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is not the first cork which you have cut by many a hundred, Mr. Hardy,” he remarked.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Indeed you are wrong,” John answered, smiling; “I never cut one before in my life.”
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Indeed you are wrong,” John answered, smiling; “I never cut one before in my life.”
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “This is not the first cork which you have cut by many a hundred, Mr. Hardy,” he remarked.
occasion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His companion picked it out of his hand and examined it with the eye of an expert.
penknife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
picked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
Quebec
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
remarked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is not the first cork which you have cut by many a hundred, Mr. Hardy,” he remarked.
smiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Indeed you are wrong,” John answered, smiling; “I never cut one before in my life.”
smooth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
Strolling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
tapering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
tempted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “This is not the first cork which you have cut by many a hundred, Mr. Hardy,” he remarked.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On one occasion he had, in the interests of the firm, to journey to Quebec, and to visit the very cork factory which had tempted him to leave England.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
workroom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strolling through the workroom with the foreman, John automatically, and without knowing what he was doing, picked up a square piece of the bark, and fashioned it with two or three deft cuts of his penknife into a smooth tapering cork.
wrong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Indeed you are wrong,” John answered, smiling; “I never cut one before in my life.”
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “This is not the first cork which you have cut by many a hundred, Mr. Hardy,” he remarked.
