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 That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
afraid
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From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
Ages
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From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
all
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From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
apply
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From this reading Now apply these precepts to the management of life.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
auxiliaries
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From this reading But remember this, you have no more powerful auxiliaries than these men themselves; they are their own enemies; fight them with honest weapons, and sooner or later they are condemned.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
calumny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
chief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
competitors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
condemned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But remember this, you have no more powerful auxiliaries than these men themselves; they are their own enemies; fight them with honest weapons, and sooner or later they are condemned.
crowd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
destroy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
element
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
enemies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
evil-speaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
fight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But remember this, you have no more powerful auxiliaries than these men themselves; they are their own enemies; fight them with honest weapons, and sooner or later they are condemned.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
fraud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But remember this, you have no more powerful auxiliaries than these men themselves; they are their own enemies; fight them with honest weapons, and sooner or later they are condemned.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑnɪst/
truthful and trustworthy
From this reading But remember this, you have no more powerful auxiliaries than these men themselves; they are their own enemies; fight them with honest weapons, and sooner or later they are condemned.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
ill-service
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But remember this, you have no more powerful auxiliaries than these men themselves; they are their own enemies; fight them with honest weapons, and sooner or later they are condemned.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now apply these precepts to the management of life.
loyal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
management
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now apply these precepts to the management of life.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
meet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
Middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But remember this, you have no more powerful auxiliaries than these men themselves; they are their own enemies; fight them with honest weapons, and sooner or later they are condemned.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now apply these precepts to the management of life.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now apply these precepts to the management of life.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But remember this, you have no more powerful auxiliaries than these men themselves; they are their own enemies; fight them with honest weapons, and sooner or later they are condemned.
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
pitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
powerful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But remember this, you have no more powerful auxiliaries than these men themselves; they are their own enemies; fight them with honest weapons, and sooner or later they are condemned.
precepts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now apply these precepts to the management of life.
press
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
princes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading But remember this, you have no more powerful auxiliaries than these men themselves; they are their own enemies; fight them with honest weapons, and sooner or later they are condemned.
rivals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
sooner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But remember this, you have no more powerful auxiliaries than these men themselves; they are their own enemies; fight them with honest weapons, and sooner or later they are condemned.
strategy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
success
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
system
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But remember this, you have no more powerful auxiliaries than these men themselves; they are their own enemies; fight them with honest weapons, and sooner or later they are condemned.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Now apply these precepts to the management of life.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But remember this, you have no more powerful auxiliaries than these men themselves; they are their own enemies; fight them with honest weapons, and sooner or later they are condemned.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading But remember this, you have no more powerful auxiliaries than these men themselves; they are their own enemies; fight them with honest weapons, and sooner or later they are condemned.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Now apply these precepts to the management of life.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But remember this, you have no more powerful auxiliaries than these men themselves; they are their own enemies; fight them with honest weapons, and sooner or later they are condemned.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now apply these precepts to the management of life.
traitorous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
weapons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But remember this, you have no more powerful auxiliaries than these men themselves; they are their own enemies; fight them with honest weapons, and sooner or later they are condemned.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading That was a good system for the Middle Ages, when princes had to destroy their rivals by pitting one against the other; but in these days, all things being done in open day, I am afraid it would do you ill-service.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You will hear many persons say that strategy is the chief element of success; that the best way to press through the crowd is to set some men against other men and so take their places.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading No, you must meet your competitors face to face, be they loyal and true men, or traitorous enemies whose weapons are calumny, evil-speaking, and fraud.
