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 A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
Apart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apart from the pecuniary gain he felt that he should enjoy getting the best of Ernest, who had already foiled him at Oak Forks.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Apart from the pecuniary gain he felt that he should enjoy getting the best of Ernest, who had already foiled him at Oak Forks.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There might be one or two hundred dollars, and no one in charge but a boy whom he could easily overpower.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apart from the pecuniary gain he felt that he should enjoy getting the best of Ernest, who had already foiled him at Oak Forks.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There might be one or two hundred dollars, and no one in charge but a boy whom he could easily overpower.
BURGLAR'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
Burns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he was too greedy for gain.
charge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There might be one or two hundred dollars, and no one in charge but a boy whom he could easily overpower.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There might be one or two hundred dollars, and no one in charge but a boy whom he could easily overpower.
craving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
dollars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There might be one or two hundred dollars, and no one in charge but a boy whom he could easily overpower.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
easily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There might be one or two hundred dollars, and no one in charge but a boy whom he could easily overpower.
enjoy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apart from the pecuniary gain he felt that he should enjoy getting the best of Ernest, who had already foiled him at Oak Forks.
Ernest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apart from the pecuniary gain he felt that he should enjoy getting the best of Ernest, who had already foiled him at Oak Forks.
escape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
FAILURE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
foiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apart from the pecuniary gain he felt that he should enjoy getting the best of Ernest, who had already foiled him at Oak Forks.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But he was too greedy for gain.
Forks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apart from the pecuniary gain he felt that he should enjoy getting the best of Ernest, who had already foiled him at Oak Forks.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Apart from the pecuniary gain he felt that he should enjoy getting the best of Ernest, who had already foiled him at Oak Forks.
gain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was too greedy for gain.
getting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apart from the pecuniary gain he felt that he should enjoy getting the best of Ernest, who had already foiled him at Oak Forks.
gold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
goodly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
greedy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was too greedy for gain.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Apart from the pecuniary gain he felt that he should enjoy getting the best of Ernest, who had already foiled him at Oak Forks.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There might be one or two hundred dollars, and no one in charge but a boy whom he could easily overpower.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
irresistible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading There might be one or two hundred dollars, and no one in charge but a boy whom he could easily overpower.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There might be one or two hundred dollars, and no one in charge but a boy whom he could easily overpower.
Oak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apart from the pecuniary gain he felt that he should enjoy getting the best of Ernest, who had already foiled him at Oak Forks.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There might be one or two hundred dollars, and no one in charge but a boy whom he could easily overpower.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There might be one or two hundred dollars, and no one in charge but a boy whom he could easily overpower.
overpower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There might be one or two hundred dollars, and no one in charge but a boy whom he could easily overpower.
pecuniary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apart from the pecuniary gain he felt that he should enjoy getting the best of Ernest, who had already foiled him at Oak Forks.
pictured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
prudent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
secured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Apart from the pecuniary gain he felt that he should enjoy getting the best of Ernest, who had already foiled him at Oak Forks.
stock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
store
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Apart from the pecuniary gain he felt that he should enjoy getting the best of Ernest, who had already foiled him at Oak Forks.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There might be one or two hundred dollars, and no one in charge but a boy whom he could easily overpower.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He pictured to himself the store with its goodly stock of money taken in during the day, and he felt an irresistible craving for it.
Tom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was too greedy for gain.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There might be one or two hundred dollars, and no one in charge but a boy whom he could easily overpower.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But he was too greedy for gain.
watch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Apart from the pecuniary gain he felt that he should enjoy getting the best of Ernest, who had already foiled him at Oak Forks.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There might be one or two hundred dollars, and no one in charge but a boy whom he could easily overpower.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A BURGLAR'S FAILURE If Tom Burns had been more prudent, he would have made good his escape with the money and gold watch he had already secured.