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 I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
abstract
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
actual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another is that, though it is true I had good cause to suppose the man in hiding to be James Mullen, I had no actual proof of his identity.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
AnothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Another is that, though it is true I had good cause to suppose the man in hiding to be James Mullen, I had no actual proof of his identity.
arrest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
BOARD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
cause
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another is that, though it is true I had good cause to suppose the man in hiding to be James Mullen, I had no actual proof of his identity.
CUBAN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
dig
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
Finn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Another is that, though it is true I had good cause to suppose the man in hiding to be James Mullen, I had no actual proof of his identity.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
hiding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Another is that, though it is true I had good cause to suppose the man in hiding to be James Mullen, I had no actual proof of his identity.
HuckleberrynounUS /ˈhʌk.əlˌber.i/
A small edible dark blue or black berry, or the famous literary character Huck Finn.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
identity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another is that, though it is true I had good cause to suppose the man in hiding to be James Mullen, I had no actual proof of his identity.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
interesting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, for several reasons, one of which is that the story would then have been shorter and perhaps less interesting.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Well, for several reasons, one of which is that the story would then have been shorter and perhaps less interesting.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
James
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another is that, though it is true I had good cause to suppose the man in hiding to be James Mullen, I had no actual proof of his identity.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
job
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
key
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, for several reasons, one of which is that the story would then have been shorter and perhaps less interesting.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
Mullen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
needs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
nigger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Another is that, though it is true I had good cause to suppose the man in hiding to be James Mullen, I had no actual proof of his identity.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Well, for several reasons, one of which is that the story would then have been shorter and perhaps less interesting.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, for several reasons, one of which is that the story would then have been shorter and perhaps less interesting.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
proof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another is that, though it is true I had good cause to suppose the man in hiding to be James Mullen, I had no actual proof of his identity.
QUEEN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
reader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Well, for several reasons, one of which is that the story would then have been shorter and perhaps less interesting.
rescue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
satisfied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
Sawyer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
says
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
SECOND
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
seven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, for several reasons, one of which is that the story would then have been shorter and perhaps less interesting.
shorter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, for several reasons, one of which is that the story would then have been shorter and perhaps less interesting.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, for several reasons, one of which is that the story would then have been shorter and perhaps less interesting.
supposenounUS /ˈsuppose/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Another is that, though it is true I had good cause to suppose the man in hiding to be James Mullen, I had no actual proof of his identity.
suspecting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, for several reasons, one of which is that the story would then have been shorter and perhaps less interesting.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Another is that, though it is true I had good cause to suppose the man in hiding to be James Mullen, I had no actual proof of his identity.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
TIMEnounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
Tom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another is that, though it is true I had good cause to suppose the man in hiding to be James Mullen, I had no actual proof of his identity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
Well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, for several reasons, one of which is that the story would then have been shorter and perhaps less interesting.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Well, for several reasons, one of which is that the story would then have been shorter and perhaps less interesting.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
wished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
woodshed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
wretch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why go to work like Tom Sawyer in ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ who, when he wished to rescue Jim the nigger from the woodshed, must needs make a seven days’ job of it, and dig the poor wretch out, when it would have been an easy matter to abstract the key and let him out through the door?”
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading I BOARD THE “CUBAN QUEEN” FOR THE SECOND TIME “But when you had satisfied yourself that there _was_ a man in hiding on the ‘Cuban Queen,’” says the reader, “and when you had every reason for suspecting that man to be Mullen, why not at once arrest him?
