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 If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
acquainted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
American
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
arrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
ATLANTA
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From this reading THE PASSENGER OF THE ATLANTA.
Barbicane
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From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
clerks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
conceive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
discredit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
envelope
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From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
especially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
French
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
Frenchman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
hesitated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
Irish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
joke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
journeynounUS /ˈjourney/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
necessarily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
Newfoundland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE PASSENGER OF THE ATLANTA.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
PASSENGER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PASSENGER OF THE ATLANTA.
post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
practical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
probability
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
prudence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
sake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
sealedadjectiveUS /siːld/
closed and kept secret in this chapter’s sailing situation
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
telegram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
telegraph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PASSENGER OF THE ATLANTA.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
throw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
wonderfulnounUS /ˈwonderful/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
