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 near files turned and looked at him curiously, asking him if he had had a dream.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A vague expression came into his eyes again; his past life rose before him.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And it is a pity, all the same, because I was to be married when I got my discharge.”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The near files turned and looked at him curiously, asking him if he had had a dream.
army
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
asking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The near files turned and looked at him curiously, asking him if he had had a dream.
assist
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From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The near files turned and looked at him curiously, asking him if he had had a dream.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “And it is a pity, all the same, because I was to be married when I got my discharge.”
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading “And it is a pity, all the same, because I was to be married when I got my discharge.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A vague expression came into his eyes again; his past life rose before him.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading No, he had dreamed nothing, but he felt it; it was there.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A vague expression came into his eyes again; his past life rose before him.
curiously
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From this reading The near files turned and looked at him curiously, asking him if he had had a dream.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
discharge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And it is a pity, all the same, because I was to be married when I got my discharge.”
disgusted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
dreamnounUS /driːm/
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading The near files turned and looked at him curiously, asking him if he had had a dream.
dreamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, he had dreamed nothing, but he felt it; it was there.
expression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A vague expression came into his eyes again; his past life rose before him.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A vague expression came into his eyes again; his past life rose before him.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, he had dreamed nothing, but he felt it; it was there.
files
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The near files turned and looked at him curiously, asking him if he had had a dream.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And it is a pity, all the same, because I was to be married when I got my discharge.”
grocer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The near files turned and looked at him curiously, asking him if he had had a dream.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The near files turned and looked at him curiously, asking him if he had had a dream.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The near files turned and looked at him curiously, asking him if he had had a dream.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A vague expression came into his eyes again; his past life rose before him.
hit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “And it is a pity, all the same, because I was to be married when I got my discharge.”
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The near files turned and looked at him curiously, asking him if he had had a dream.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A vague expression came into his eyes again; his past life rose before him.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “And it is a pity, all the same, because I was to be married when I got my discharge.”
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading No, he had dreamed nothing, but he felt it; it was there.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A vague expression came into his eyes again; his past life rose before him.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The near files turned and looked at him curiously, asking him if he had had a dream.
Lyons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
married
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And it is a pity, all the same, because I was to be married when I got my discharge.”
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “And it is a pity, all the same, because I was to be married when I got my discharge.”
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The near files turned and looked at him curiously, asking him if he had had a dream.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No, he had dreamed nothing, but he felt it; it was there.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading No, he had dreamed nothing, but he felt it; it was there.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A vague expression came into his eyes again; his past life rose before him.
petted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
pity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And it is a pity, all the same, because I was to be married when I got my discharge.”
proffer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
purchasing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
rejecting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
retail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A vague expression came into his eyes again; his past life rose before him.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “And it is a pity, all the same, because I was to be married when I got my discharge.”
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
spoiledadjectiveUS /spɔɪld/
given too much comfort or indulgence
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
surroundings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The near files turned and looked at him curiously, asking him if he had had a dream.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, he had dreamed nothing, but he felt it; it was there.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “And it is a pity, all the same, because I was to be married when I got my discharge.”
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The near files turned and looked at him curiously, asking him if he had had a dream.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
vague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A vague expression came into his eyes again; his past life rose before him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No, he had dreamed nothing, but he felt it; it was there.
weary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “And it is a pity, all the same, because I was to be married when I got my discharge.”
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was the son of a small retail grocer at Lyons, and had been petted and spoiled by his mother up to the time of her death; then rejecting the proffer of his father, with whom he did not hit it off well, to assist in purchasing his discharge, he had remained with the army, weary and disgusted with life and with his surroundings.
