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 Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
allowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
aside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading So at last he was about in despair.
back
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From this reading He wasn’t going to have Nat Parsons coming back bragging about seeing the balloon, and him having to listen to it and keep quiet.
balloon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
begun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
bragging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wasn’t going to have Nat Parsons coming back bragging about seeing the balloon, and him having to listen to it and keep quiet.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
chance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wasn’t going to have Nat Parsons coming back bragging about seeing the balloon, and him having to listen to it and keep quiet.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
deal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
despair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So at last he was about in despair.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
em
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
Europe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He wasn’t going to have Nat Parsons coming back bragging about seeing the balloon, and him having to listen to it and keep quiet.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So at last he was about in despair.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wasn’t going to have Nat Parsons coming back bragging about seeing the balloon, and him having to listen to it and keep quiet.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So at last he was about in despair.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
listen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wasn’t going to have Nat Parsons coming back bragging about seeing the balloon, and him having to listen to it and keep quiet.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
Louis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
maybe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
mightn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
Nat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
papers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
Parsons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wasn’t going to have Nat Parsons coming back bragging about seeing the balloon, and him having to listen to it and keep quiet.
sailnounUS /sail/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wasn’t going to have Nat Parsons coming back bragging about seeing the balloon, and him having to listen to it and keep quiet.
shove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So at last he was about in despair.
somewheres
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
spots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
tender
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
Tom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So at last he was about in despair.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wasn’t going to have Nat Parsons coming back bragging about seeing the balloon, and him having to listen to it and keep quiet.
Well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, Tom got up one thing after another, but they all had tender spots about ’em somewheres, and he had to shove ’em aside.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the papers went on talking, and so he allowed that maybe if he didn’t go he mightn’t ever have another chance to see a balloon; and next, he found out that Nat Parsons was going down to see it, and that decided him, of course.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Then the St. Louis papers begun to talk a good deal about the balloon that was going to sail to Europe, and Tom sort of thought he wanted to go down and see what it looked like, but couldn’t make up his mind.
