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 Pretty soon he jumped up all of a sudden, and says to me, in a warlike kind of a voice: “It would be runnin’ away.
acted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Catty was pretty quiet all the afternoon.
all
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From this reading Catty was pretty quiet all the afternoon.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I got to know him better I found out he always worked his thumb when he was het up over something or didn’t know what to do.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pretty soon he jumped up all of a sudden, and says to me, in a warlike kind of a voice: “It would be runnin’ away.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
bend
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From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
better
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From this reading When I got to know him better I found out he always worked his thumb when he was het up over something or didn’t know what to do.
brains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once I told him I guessed his brains was in his wrist instead of in his head, and that he had to pump them like they do the pipe-organ in church, or they wouldn’t work.
Catty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Catty was pretty quiet all the afternoon.
church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once I told him I guessed his brains was in his wrist instead of in his head, and that he had to pump them like they do the pipe-organ in church, or they wouldn’t work.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I got to know him better I found out he always worked his thumb when he was het up over something or didn’t know what to do.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading When I got to know him better I found out he always worked his thumb when he was het up over something or didn’t know what to do.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
figuring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
forth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When I got to know him better I found out he always worked his thumb when he was het up over something or didn’t know what to do.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I got to know him better I found out he always worked his thumb when he was het up over something or didn’t know what to do.
guessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once I told him I guessed his brains was in his wrist instead of in his head, and that he had to pump them like they do the pipe-organ in church, or they wouldn’t work.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once I told him I guessed his brains was in his wrist instead of in his head, and that he had to pump them like they do the pipe-organ in church, or they wouldn’t work.
het
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I got to know him better I found out he always worked his thumb when he was het up over something or didn’t know what to do.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When I got to know him better I found out he always worked his thumb when he was het up over something or didn’t know what to do.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Once I told him I guessed his brains was in his wrist instead of in his head, and that he had to pump them like they do the pipe-organ in church, or they wouldn’t work.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once I told him I guessed his brains was in his wrist instead of in his head, and that he had to pump them like they do the pipe-organ in church, or they wouldn’t work.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
jumped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pretty soon he jumped up all of a sudden, and says to me, in a warlike kind of a voice: “It would be runnin’ away.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pretty soon he jumped up all of a sudden, and says to me, in a warlike kind of a voice: “It would be runnin’ away.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When I got to know him better I found out he always worked his thumb when he was het up over something or didn’t know what to do.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Pretty soon he jumped up all of a sudden, and says to me, in a warlike kind of a voice: “It would be runnin’ away.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Once I told him I guessed his brains was in his wrist instead of in his head, and that he had to pump them like they do the pipe-organ in church, or they wouldn’t work.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
Once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once I told him I guessed his brains was in his wrist instead of in his head, and that he had to pump them like they do the pipe-organ in church, or they wouldn’t work.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When I got to know him better I found out he always worked his thumb when he was het up over something or didn’t know what to do.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading When I got to know him better I found out he always worked his thumb when he was het up over something or didn’t know what to do.
pipe-organ
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once I told him I guessed his brains was in his wrist instead of in his head, and that he had to pump them like they do the pipe-organ in church, or they wouldn’t work.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Catty was pretty quiet all the afternoon.
pump
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Catty was pretty quiet all the afternoon.
runnin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pretty soon he jumped up all of a sudden, and says to me, in a warlike kind of a voice: “It would be runnin’ away.
says
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pretty soon he jumped up all of a sudden, and says to me, in a warlike kind of a voice: “It would be runnin’ away.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
sit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pretty soon he jumped up all of a sudden, and says to me, in a warlike kind of a voice: “It would be runnin’ away.
squint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Pretty soon he jumped up all of a sudden, and says to me, in a warlike kind of a voice: “It would be runnin’ away.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Once I told him I guessed his brains was in his wrist instead of in his head, and that he had to pump them like they do the pipe-organ in church, or they wouldn’t work.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Catty was pretty quiet all the afternoon.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Once I told him I guessed his brains was in his wrist instead of in his head, and that he had to pump them like they do the pipe-organ in church, or they wouldn’t work.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once I told him I guessed his brains was in his wrist instead of in his head, and that he had to pump them like they do the pipe-organ in church, or they wouldn’t work.
thumb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once I told him I guessed his brains was in his wrist instead of in his head, and that he had to pump them like they do the pipe-organ in church, or they wouldn’t work.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I got to know him better I found out he always worked his thumb when he was het up over something or didn’t know what to do.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pretty soon he jumped up all of a sudden, and says to me, in a warlike kind of a voice: “It would be runnin’ away.
warlike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pretty soon he jumped up all of a sudden, and says to me, in a warlike kind of a voice: “It would be runnin’ away.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Catty was pretty quiet all the afternoon.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading When I got to know him better I found out he always worked his thumb when he was het up over something or didn’t know what to do.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When I got to know him better I found out he always worked his thumb when he was het up over something or didn’t know what to do.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once I told him I guessed his brains was in his wrist instead of in his head, and that he had to pump them like they do the pipe-organ in church, or they wouldn’t work.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I got to know him better I found out he always worked his thumb when he was het up over something or didn’t know what to do.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He seemed to be figuring something out, and every little while he acted as if he had forgotten I was around at all, and would sit down some place and look off at the distance and squint, and bend his thumb back and forth like he expected to pump water with it.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once I told him I guessed his brains was in his wrist instead of in his head, and that he had to pump them like they do the pipe-organ in church, or they wouldn’t work.
wrist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once I told him I guessed his brains was in his wrist instead of in his head, and that he had to pump them like they do the pipe-organ in church, or they wouldn’t work.
