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 At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
accosted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I scarcely recognized Mr. Cullen when he first accosted me in the courtyard of the Milan.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
altogether
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clothes needed brushing, he was unshaved, and he looked altogether very much in need of a bath and a new outfit.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "May I have a word with you, Mr. Walmsley?" he asked, standing in the middle of the pavement in front of me and blocking my progress toward the Strand.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
bath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clothes needed brushing, he was unshaved, and he looked altogether very much in need of a bath and a new outfit.
blocking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "May I have a word with you, Mr. Walmsley?" he asked, standing in the middle of the pavement in front of me and blocking my progress toward the Strand.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
brushing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clothes needed brushing, he was unshaved, and he looked altogether very much in need of a bath and a new outfit.
carelessness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
clothes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clothes needed brushing, he was unshaved, and he looked altogether very much in need of a bath and a new outfit.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrtjɑːrd/
an open area surrounded by the walls of a building
From this reading I scarcely recognized Mr. Cullen when he first accosted me in the courtyard of the Milan.
Cullen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I scarcely recognized Mr. Cullen when he first accosted me in the courtyard of the Milan.
distinguished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
dress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I scarcely recognized Mr. Cullen when he first accosted me in the courtyard of the Milan.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I hesitated for a moment.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "May I have a word with you, Mr. Walmsley?" he asked, standing in the middle of the pavement in front of me and blocking my progress toward the Strand.
gait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "May I have a word with you, Mr. Walmsley?" he asked, standing in the middle of the pavement in front of me and blocking my progress toward the Strand.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I scarcely recognized Mr. Cullen when he first accosted me in the courtyard of the Milan.
hesitated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hesitated for a moment.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His clothes needed brushing, he was unshaved, and he looked altogether very much in need of a bath and a new outfit.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I scarcely recognized Mr. Cullen when he first accosted me in the courtyard of the Milan.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I scarcely recognized Mr. Cullen when he first accosted me in the courtyard of the Milan.
level
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
loafer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His clothes needed brushing, he was unshaved, and he looked altogether very much in need of a bath and a new outfit.
Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "May I have a word with you, Mr. Walmsley?" he asked, standing in the middle of the pavement in front of me and blocking my progress toward the Strand.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I scarcely recognized Mr. Cullen when he first accosted me in the courtyard of the Milan.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "May I have a word with you, Mr. Walmsley?" he asked, standing in the middle of the pavement in front of me and blocking my progress toward the Strand.
Milan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I scarcely recognized Mr. Cullen when he first accosted me in the courtyard of the Milan.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hesitated for a moment.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I scarcely recognized Mr. Cullen when he first accosted me in the courtyard of the Milan.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clothes needed brushing, he was unshaved, and he looked altogether very much in need of a bath and a new outfit.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "May I have a word with you, Mr. Walmsley?" he asked, standing in the middle of the pavement in front of me and blocking my progress toward the Strand.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His clothes needed brushing, he was unshaved, and he looked altogether very much in need of a bath and a new outfit.
needed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clothes needed brushing, he was unshaved, and he looked altogether very much in need of a bath and a new outfit.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clothes needed brushing, he was unshaved, and he looked altogether very much in need of a bath and a new outfit.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I scarcely recognized Mr. Cullen when he first accosted me in the courtyard of the Milan.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
outfit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clothes needed brushing, he was unshaved, and he looked altogether very much in need of a bath and a new outfit.
pavement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "May I have a word with you, Mr. Walmsley?" he asked, standing in the middle of the pavement in front of me and blocking my progress toward the Strand.
progress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "May I have a word with you, Mr. Walmsley?" he asked, standing in the middle of the pavement in front of me and blocking my progress toward the Strand.
recognized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I scarcely recognized Mr. Cullen when he first accosted me in the courtyard of the Milan.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I scarcely recognized Mr. Cullen when he first accosted me in the courtyard of the Milan.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "May I have a word with you, Mr. Walmsley?" he asked, standing in the middle of the pavement in front of me and blocking my progress toward the Strand.
Strand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "May I have a word with you, Mr. Walmsley?" he asked, standing in the middle of the pavement in front of me and blocking my progress toward the Strand.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I scarcely recognized Mr. Cullen when he first accosted me in the courtyard of the Milan.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading "May I have a word with you, Mr. Walmsley?" he asked, standing in the middle of the pavement in front of me and blocking my progress toward the Strand.
unshaved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clothes needed brushing, he was unshaved, and he looked altogether very much in need of a bath and a new outfit.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clothes needed brushing, he was unshaved, and he looked altogether very much in need of a bath and a new outfit.
Walmsley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "May I have a word with you, Mr. Walmsley?" he asked, standing in the middle of the pavement in front of me and blocking my progress toward the Strand.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His clothes needed brushing, he was unshaved, and he looked altogether very much in need of a bath and a new outfit.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading I scarcely recognized Mr. Cullen when he first accosted me in the courtyard of the Milan.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading At no time of distinguished appearance, a certain carelessness of dress and gait had brought him now almost on a level with the loafer in the street.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "May I have a word with you, Mr. Walmsley?" he asked, standing in the middle of the pavement in front of me and blocking my progress toward the Strand.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "May I have a word with you, Mr. Walmsley?" he asked, standing in the middle of the pavement in front of me and blocking my progress toward the Strand.