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 There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
agitated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
AlthoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
antecedents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
anxious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
apartments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
ask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
assistants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
condition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
confided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
confronted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
daughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/
not friendly or close
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
Ellison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
ELLISON'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ELLISON’S PAST.
engaged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
immediately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
leaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
MR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MR.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
mysteriously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
Nick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
Nick's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
Norman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
PAST
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ELLISON’S PAST.
questions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
Sanborn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
Sanborn's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
settling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “Although Mr. Sanborn,” said Nick, “confided this thing to our hands immediately, it was no time, when he was so agitated and so anxious over the condition of his daughter, to ask him the questions which immediately leaped into my mind.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Nick and his assistants had returned to Nick’s apartments, which were not far distant from Mr. Sanborn’s house.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading There, settling themselves down to look over the new case on which they were engaged, the first thing that they were confronted with was a want of knowledge as to the antecedents of Norman Ellison, who had so mysteriously disappeared.
