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 But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
argumentnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənt/
a reason or example used to support an idea
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
aspect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fallen was the proud head now and fallen the great man's aspect.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
blades
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
bludgeon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
carry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, those few chips taken from the handle of this weapon will carry a different significance.
chips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, those few chips taken from the handle of this weapon will carry a different significance.
detected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Now, those few chips taken from the handle of this weapon will carry a different significance.
disfigured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
exists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
Fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fallen was the proud head now and fallen the great man's aspect.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, those few chips taken from the handle of this weapon will carry a different significance.
follynounUS /ˈfɑːli/
an action or decision that shows a lack of good judgment
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Now, those few chips taken from the handle of this weapon will carry a different significance.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Fallen was the proud head now and fallen the great man's aspect.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
handle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, those few chips taken from the handle of this weapon will carry a different significance.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fallen was the proud head now and fallen the great man's aspect.
Headquarters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
John's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
knife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fallen was the proud head now and fallen the great man's aspect.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, those few chips taken from the handle of this weapon will carry a different significance.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
pocket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
pointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
Police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
pride
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
prosecution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
proud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fallen was the proud head now and fallen the great man's aspect.
prove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
repute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
significance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, those few chips taken from the handle of this weapon will carry a different significance.
sorry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
steel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
stick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, those few chips taken from the handle of this weapon will carry a different significance.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Now, those few chips taken from the handle of this weapon will carry a different significance.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Now, those few chips taken from the handle of this weapon will carry a different significance.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
triflenounUS /ˈtraɪfəl/
something that needs very little effort
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
unbroken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
weapon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, those few chips taken from the handle of this weapon will carry a different significance.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in my folly I asked to see this stick which still exists at Police Headquarters, and there in the wood I detected and pointed out a trifle of steel which never came from the unbroken blades of the knife taken from John's pocket."
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But the argument was a sorry one and in itself would have broken down the prosecution had he been a man of better repute.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "They tried to prove, as you will remember, that it was John who thus disfigured the bludgeon he always carried with pride.
