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 must always be a failure or worse.”
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
altruistic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That must always be a failure or worse.”
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
argumentnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənt/
a reason or example used to support an idea
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He went on at length to establish this position.
attempt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That must always be a failure or worse.”
bearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
causes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
competitive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
completion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
conditions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
contempt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
disaster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
effect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
establish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went on at length to establish this position.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
failure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That must always be a failure or worse.”
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
general
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
giving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He went on at length to establish this position.
HerenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
illustration
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
invention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading He went on at length to establish this position.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
merely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
misgivings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
moral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
morbid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading That must always be a failure or worse.”
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
nugatory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
number
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading That must always be a failure or worse.”
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
overcome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went on at length to establish this position.
power
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
principle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
process
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
realize
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
reformers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
renders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
ridiculous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
scruple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
shown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
son-in-law
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
spare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
stating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That must always be a failure or worse.”
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He went on at length to establish this position.
throw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He went on at length to establish this position.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “The thing which renders so many reformers nugatory and ridiculous, and has brought contempt and disaster on so many good causes, is the attempt to realize the altruistic man in competitive conditions.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Then, “Here is my son-in-law”--and the old man had the effect of stating the fact merely in illustration of the general principle he had laid down--“who has been giving all his spare time this winter to an invention in the line of his art, and had brought it to completion within a few days.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has all along had misgivings as to the moral bearing of his invention, since every process of the kind must throw a number of people out of work, and he has shown a morbid scruple in the matter which I have tried to overcome with every argument in my power.”
worse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That must always be a failure or worse.”
