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 Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Whether mankind is really partial to happiness is an open question.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
appear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
certainly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
cherished
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From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
clergymen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
decamps
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From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
entertain
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From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
escape
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From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
esteem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
Finsbury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
fled
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From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
happiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether mankind is really partial to happiness is an open question.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His lot (I think we may say) was not a happy one.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His lot (I think we may say) was not a happy one.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading His lot (I think we may say) was not a happy one.
ideas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Whether mankind is really partial to happiness is an open question.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
Joseph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
judges
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From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
lot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His lot (I think we may say) was not a happy one.
mankind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether mankind is really partial to happiness is an open question.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading His lot (I think we may say) was not a happy one.
merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
model
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
month
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
Morris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
nephew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His lot (I think we may say) was not a happy one.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Whether mankind is really partial to happiness is an open question.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
parishioners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
Park
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
partial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether mankind is really partial to happiness is an open question.
passes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Whether mankind is really partial to happiness is an open question.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether mankind is really partial to happiness is an open question.
retire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
runs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His lot (I think we may say) was not a happy one.
scarceadjectiveUS /skɛrs/
hard to find or in short supply
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
service
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
Snaresbrook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
Texas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His lot (I think we may say) was not a happy one.
thrice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Whether mankind is really partial to happiness is an open question.
travel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
twice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
valued
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His lot (I think we may say) was not a happy one.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading His lot (I think we may say) was not a happy one.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
WhetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Whether mankind is really partial to happiness is an open question.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My friend, Mr Morris, with whom I travel up twice or thrice a week from Snaresbrook Park, is certainly a gentleman whom I esteem; but he was scarce a model nephew.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading To an open mind, it will appear (upon the whole) less strange that Joseph Finsbury should have been led to entertain ideas of escape.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Not a month passes by but some cherished son runs off into the merchant service, or some valued husband decamps to Texas with a lady help; clergymen have fled from their parishioners; and even judges have been known to retire.
