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 ANSWERING THE ADVERTISEMENT The advertisement for Ernest in a St. Louis daily paper came about in this way.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading ANSWERING THE ADVERTISEMENT The advertisement for Ernest in a St. Louis daily paper came about in this way.
acquainted
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From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
ADVERTISEMENT
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From this reading ANSWERING THE ADVERTISEMENT The advertisement for Ernest in a St. Louis daily paper came about in this way.
all
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From this reading "Tell me all you know about him," said Bolton eagerly.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading One gentleman, who frequently visited St. Louis, answered, "Yes, I know a boy named Ray."
ANSWERING
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From this reading ANSWERING THE ADVERTISEMENT The advertisement for Ernest in a St. Louis daily paper came about in this way.
any
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From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
attention
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From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
bearing
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From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
Bolton
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From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
boy
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From this reading One gentleman, who frequently visited St. Louis, answered, "Yes, I know a boy named Ray."
bright-looking
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From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
came
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From this reading ANSWERING THE ADVERTISEMENT The advertisement for Ernest in a St. Louis daily paper came about in this way.
clients
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From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
daily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ANSWERING THE ADVERTISEMENT The advertisement for Ernest in a St. Louis daily paper came about in this way.
eagerly
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From this reading "Tell me all you know about him," said Bolton eagerly.
Ernest
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From this reading ANSWERING THE ADVERTISEMENT The advertisement for Ernest in a St. Louis daily paper came about in this way.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ANSWERING THE ADVERTISEMENT The advertisement for Ernest in a St. Louis daily paper came about in this way.
frequently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One gentleman, who frequently visited St. Louis, answered, "Yes, I know a boy named Ray."
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading One gentleman, who frequently visited St. Louis, answered, "Yes, I know a boy named Ray."
habit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Tell me all you know about him," said Bolton eagerly.
Hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading One gentleman, who frequently visited St. Louis, answered, "Yes, I know a boy named Ray."
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ANSWERING THE ADVERTISEMENT The advertisement for Ernest in a St. Louis daily paper came about in this way.
inquiring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One gentleman, who frequently visited St. Louis, answered, "Yes, I know a boy named Ray."
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
Louis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ANSWERING THE ADVERTISEMENT The advertisement for Ernest in a St. Louis daily paper came about in this way.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Tell me all you know about him," said Bolton eagerly.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
named
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One gentleman, who frequently visited St. Louis, answered, "Yes, I know a boy named Ray."
newsboy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One gentleman, who frequently visited St. Louis, answered, "Yes, I know a boy named Ray."
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ANSWERING THE ADVERTISEMENT The advertisement for Ernest in a St. Louis daily paper came about in this way.
papers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
Ray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Tell me all you know about him," said Bolton eagerly.
sold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
Southern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ANSWERING THE ADVERTISEMENT The advertisement for Ernest in a St. Louis daily paper came about in this way.
staying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
TellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Tell me all you know about him," said Bolton eagerly.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ANSWERING THE ADVERTISEMENT The advertisement for Ernest in a St. Louis daily paper came about in this way.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading ANSWERING THE ADVERTISEMENT The advertisement for Ernest in a St. Louis daily paper came about in this way.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
visited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One gentleman, who frequently visited St. Louis, answered, "Yes, I know a boy named Ray."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ANSWERING THE ADVERTISEMENT The advertisement for Ernest in a St. Louis daily paper came about in this way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
Western
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading One gentleman, who frequently visited St. Louis, answered, "Yes, I know a boy named Ray."
Windham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was staying at the Southern Hotel last winter," answered Mr. Windham, "when my attention was called to a bright-looking newsboy who sold the evening papers outside.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Bolton was in the habit of inquiring from time to time of Western clients if they were acquainted with any persons bearing the name Ray.
Yes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One gentleman, who frequently visited St. Louis, answered, "Yes, I know a boy named Ray."
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Tell me all you know about him," said Bolton eagerly.