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 MYSTERIOUS WARNING.
absolutely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
bad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
brilliant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had a long talk with him, in which he pointed out that a trial could not but result in imprisonment.
citizen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
conceived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He had a long talk with him, in which he pointed out that a trial could not but result in imprisonment.
court
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
cracksman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
declared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
despiteprepositionUS /dɪˈspaɪt/
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
dozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had a long talk with him, in which he pointed out that a trial could not but result in imprisonment.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had a long talk with him, in which he pointed out that a trial could not but result in imprisonment.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
imprisonment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a long talk with him, in which he pointed out that a trial could not but result in imprisonment.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
jail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
Lannigan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
liked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had a long talk with him, in which he pointed out that a trial could not but result in imprisonment.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
MYSTERIOUSadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
difficult to explain or understand
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS WARNING.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
Nick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had a long talk with him, in which he pointed out that a trial could not but result in imprisonment.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a long talk with him, in which he pointed out that a trial could not but result in imprisonment.
Philadelphia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
pointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a long talk with him, in which he pointed out that a trial could not but result in imprisonment.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
record
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
result
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a long talk with him, in which he pointed out that a trial could not but result in imprisonment.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
spend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
swell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a long talk with him, in which he pointed out that a trial could not but result in imprisonment.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
trial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a long talk with him, in which he pointed out that a trial could not but result in imprisonment.
WARNING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS WARNING.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had a long talk with him, in which he pointed out that a trial could not but result in imprisonment.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had a long talk with him, in which he pointed out that a trial could not but result in imprisonment.
wonderfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no reason why I should let you go free, except that I believe you could be a wonderfully brilliant man and a good citizen if you liked.
worth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lannigan, the swell cracksman of Philadelphia, Nick had conceived an idea that there was real worth in the man, despite his bad record.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I am absolutely sure,” Nick declared, “that if I brought you into court, you would spend the next half a dozen years in jail.
