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 ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
Actor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading ‘You are an old friend of mine, Dalley,’ he said slowly, ‘but you may go too far!’
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
anon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valdis coloured violently, and anon grew pale.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ‘You are an old friend of mine, Dalley,’ he said slowly, ‘but you may go too far!’
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading ‘You are an old friend of mine, Dalley,’ he said slowly, ‘but you may go too far!’
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
chuckled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
coloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valdis coloured violently, and anon grew pale.
consumed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
Dalley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
Destruction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
DisappointmentnounUS /ˈdisappointment/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
Distinguished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
entitled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
Envy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
Especially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You are an old friend of mine, Dalley,’ he said slowly, ‘but you may go too far!’
Fires
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You are an old friend of mine, Dalley,’ he said slowly, ‘but you may go too far!’
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You are an old friend of mine, Dalley,’ he said slowly, ‘but you may go too far!’
GoodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valdis coloured violently, and anon grew pale.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘You are an old friend of mine, Dalley,’ he said slowly, ‘but you may go too far!’
Hopeless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
Imaginative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
Interior
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ‘It will,’ said Valdis.
journals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
Lampooner's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
Love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading ‘You are an old friend of mine, Dalley,’ he said slowly, ‘but you may go too far!’
Microbes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading ‘You are an old friend of mine, Dalley,’ he said slowly, ‘but you may go too far!’
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You are an old friend of mine, Dalley,’ he said slowly, ‘but you may go too far!’
Organism
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
pale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valdis coloured violently, and anon grew pale.
photo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
Portrait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
Process
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
reproduce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘It will,’ said Valdis.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You are an old friend of mine, Dalley,’ he said slowly, ‘but you may go too far!’
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You are an old friend of mine, Dalley,’ he said slowly, ‘but you may go too far!’
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’
Valdis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘It will,’ said Valdis.
violently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valdis coloured violently, and anon grew pale.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading ‘It will,’ said Valdis.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading ‘Good! good!’ chuckled Dalley, ‘And, my dear Valdis, how would you like a photo entitled, “Portrait of a Distinguished Actor’s Imaginative Organism consumed by the Fires of a Hopeless Love?”’
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘Especially if you reproduce it in the journals, and call it “Portrait of a Lampooner’s Interior under Process of Destruction by the Microbes of Disappointment and Envy.”’