Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
affairs
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From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
all
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From this reading The machinery suddenly stopped, and from all the bosses came the orders that every laborer should return home without delay.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
army
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From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
astonishment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One, two, three hours passed much as usual, and then something happened which caused the oldest worker in the mines unbounded astonishment.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
bosses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The machinery suddenly stopped, and from all the bosses came the orders that every laborer should return home without delay.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
called
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From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The machinery suddenly stopped, and from all the bosses came the orders that every laborer should return home without delay.
cause
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From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
caused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One, two, three hours passed much as usual, and then something happened which caused the oldest worker in the mines unbounded astonishment.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
delay
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From this reading The machinery suddenly stopped, and from all the bosses came the orders that every laborer should return home without delay.
direction
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From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
discussing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The machinery suddenly stopped, and from all the bosses came the orders that every laborer should return home without delay.
explanations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
failed
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From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
forenoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
forth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
gazing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
glancing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
groups
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One, two, three hours passed much as usual, and then something happened which caused the oldest worker in the mines unbounded astonishment.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The machinery suddenly stopped, and from all the bosses came the orders that every laborer should return home without delay.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One, two, three hours passed much as usual, and then something happened which caused the oldest worker in the mines unbounded astonishment.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
ill-treatment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
laborer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The machinery suddenly stopped, and from all the bosses came the orders that every laborer should return home without delay.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
machinery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The machinery suddenly stopped, and from all the bosses came the orders that every laborer should return home without delay.
Miller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
mines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One, two, three hours passed much as usual, and then something happened which caused the oldest worker in the mines unbounded astonishment.
MOB
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One, two, three hours passed much as usual, and then something happened which caused the oldest worker in the mines unbounded astonishment.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
occasion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
oldest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One, two, three hours passed much as usual, and then something happened which caused the oldest worker in the mines unbounded astonishment.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
orders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The machinery suddenly stopped, and from all the bosses came the orders that every laborer should return home without delay.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One, two, three hours passed much as usual, and then something happened which caused the oldest worker in the mines unbounded astonishment.
prevent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
regarding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
remaining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The machinery suddenly stopped, and from all the bosses came the orders that every laborer should return home without delay.
shaft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The machinery suddenly stopped, and from all the bosses came the orders that every laborer should return home without delay.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
Skip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading One, two, three hours passed much as usual, and then something happened which caused the oldest worker in the mines unbounded astonishment.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
stoppednounUS /stopped/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The machinery suddenly stopped, and from all the bosses came the orders that every laborer should return home without delay.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
succeeded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The machinery suddenly stopped, and from all the bosses came the orders that every laborer should return home without delay.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One, two, three hours passed much as usual, and then something happened which caused the oldest worker in the mines unbounded astonishment.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One, two, three hours passed much as usual, and then something happened which caused the oldest worker in the mines unbounded astonishment.
unbounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One, two, three hours passed much as usual, and then something happened which caused the oldest worker in the mines unbounded astonishment.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One, two, three hours passed much as usual, and then something happened which caused the oldest worker in the mines unbounded astonishment.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They failed to understand how he succeeded in leaving the shaft, and this surprise was less than that called forth by the fact of his remaining silent regarding their ill-treatment.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading One, two, three hours passed much as usual, and then something happened which caused the oldest worker in the mines unbounded astonishment.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The machinery suddenly stopped, and from all the bosses came the orders that every laborer should return home without delay.
wonderment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOB Fred could not prevent himself from glancing now and then in the direction of Skip Miller and his friends during the forenoon, and on each occasion he found one or more of the party gazing at him as if in wonderment.
worker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One, two, three hours passed much as usual, and then something happened which caused the oldest worker in the mines unbounded astonishment.
works
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No explanations were given, and when the vast army were on the outside they stood in groups around the works discussing the cause of this very strange state of affairs.
