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’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
access
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
alight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
backs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
balloon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
balloons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
box
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
to speak or reveal information, especially secretly
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
carefully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
changed
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From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
chemistry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
cigar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
cleared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
color
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
consciencenounUS /ˈkɑːnʃəns/
the inner sense of right and wrong
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
cracker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
Dennis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
deposited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
development
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
disappearance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
discussing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
fatigue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
giving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
grand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
guy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
interesting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
latest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
laugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
litter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
Mall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
MARAUDERS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
maybe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
McCarty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
mention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
MIDNIGHT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
murders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
neglecting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
observed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
pipe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
record
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
renewed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
significance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
sinister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
somebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/
a person, without saying who
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
soul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
tin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
Tis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
uptown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
walking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
what's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
wizard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
wreckedadjectiveUS /rɛkt/
destroyed or damaged by shipwreck
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
zeal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
