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 Slave as he was, he had but to make a sign to be implicitly obeyed.
ago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading YOU may judge, gentlemen, how much all these circumstances excited my curiosity and interest.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading YOU may judge, gentlemen, how much all these circumstances excited my curiosity and interest.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Slave as he was, he had but to make a sign to be implicitly obeyed.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Slave as he was, he had but to make a sign to be implicitly obeyed.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Slave as he was, he had but to make a sign to be implicitly obeyed.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made every inquiry regarding the prisoner, and some strange particulars came to my knowledge.
circumstances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading YOU may judge, gentlemen, how much all these circumstances excited my curiosity and interest.
comradesnounUS /ˈkɑːmrædz/
people who share difficult work or danger, especially soldiers
From this reading I learned that all his comrades displayed the greatest respect for the young negro.
curiosity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading YOU may judge, gentlemen, how much all these circumstances excited my curiosity and interest.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
displayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I learned that all his comrades displayed the greatest respect for the young negro.
Domingo
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From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
estate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading I made every inquiry regarding the prisoner, and some strange particulars came to my knowledge.
excitedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/
very enthusiastic or eager
From this reading YOU may judge, gentlemen, how much all these circumstances excited my curiosity and interest.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I learned that all his comrades displayed the greatest respect for the young negro.
gentlemennounUS /gentlemen/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading YOU may judge, gentlemen, how much all these circumstances excited my curiosity and interest.
greatest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I learned that all his comrades displayed the greatest respect for the young negro.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Slave as he was, he had but to make a sign to be implicitly obeyed.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Slave as he was, he had but to make a sign to be implicitly obeyed.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I learned that all his comrades displayed the greatest respect for the young negro.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading YOU may judge, gentlemen, how much all these circumstances excited my curiosity and interest.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I made every inquiry regarding the prisoner, and some strange particulars came to my knowledge.
implicitly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slave as he was, he had but to make a sign to be implicitly obeyed.
inquiry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made every inquiry regarding the prisoner, and some strange particulars came to my knowledge.
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading YOU may judge, gentlemen, how much all these circumstances excited my curiosity and interest.
judge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading YOU may judge, gentlemen, how much all these circumstances excited my curiosity and interest.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made every inquiry regarding the prisoner, and some strange particulars came to my knowledge.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I learned that all his comrades displayed the greatest respect for the young negro.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made every inquiry regarding the prisoner, and some strange particulars came to my knowledge.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Slave as he was, he had but to make a sign to be implicitly obeyed.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading YOU may judge, gentlemen, how much all these circumstances excited my curiosity and interest.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading YOU may judge, gentlemen, how much all these circumstances excited my curiosity and interest.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading YOU may judge, gentlemen, how much all these circumstances excited my curiosity and interest.
negro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I learned that all his comrades displayed the greatest respect for the young negro.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
obeyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slave as he was, he had but to make a sign to be implicitly obeyed.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
particulars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made every inquiry regarding the prisoner, and some strange particulars came to my knowledge.
prisoner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made every inquiry regarding the prisoner, and some strange particulars came to my knowledge.
regarding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made every inquiry regarding the prisoner, and some strange particulars came to my knowledge.
respect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I learned that all his comrades displayed the greatest respect for the young negro.
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
sign
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slave as he was, he had but to make a sign to be implicitly obeyed.
Slave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slave as he was, he had but to make a sign to be implicitly obeyed.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made every inquiry regarding the prisoner, and some strange particulars came to my knowledge.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made every inquiry regarding the prisoner, and some strange particulars came to my knowledge.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I learned that all his comrades displayed the greatest respect for the young negro.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I made every inquiry regarding the prisoner, and some strange particulars came to my knowledge.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading YOU may judge, gentlemen, how much all these circumstances excited my curiosity and interest.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I made every inquiry regarding the prisoner, and some strange particulars came to my knowledge.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Slave as he was, he had but to make a sign to be implicitly obeyed.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not born upon the estate, nor did any one know his father or mother: all that was known of him was that some years ago, a slave ship had brought him to St. Domingo.
YOUpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading YOU may judge, gentlemen, how much all these circumstances excited my curiosity and interest.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I learned that all his comrades displayed the greatest respect for the young negro.
