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 Once there was a great noise in our house,--a thumping and battering and grating.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading Now I am strong in the wrists and weak in the temper; therefore I used the one and spared the other, and got the trunk downstairs myself.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Once there was a great noise in our house,--a thumping and battering and grating.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
basement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
battering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once there was a great noise in our house,--a thumping and battering and grating.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading I did it myself because I wanted it done.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was my own self dragging my big trunk down from the garret.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I did it myself because I wanted it done.
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I did it myself because I wanted it done.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was my own self dragging my big trunk down from the garret.
downstairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I am strong in the wrists and weak in the temper; therefore I used the one and spared the other, and got the trunk downstairs myself.
dragging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was my own self dragging my big trunk down from the garret.
fetch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was my own self dragging my big trunk down from the garret.
garret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was my own self dragging my big trunk down from the garret.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I am strong in the wrists and weak in the temper; therefore I used the one and spared the other, and got the trunk downstairs myself.
grating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once there was a great noise in our house,--a thumping and battering and grating.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once there was a great noise in our house,--a thumping and battering and grating.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
Halicarnassus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once there was a great noise in our house,--a thumping and battering and grating.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I did it myself because I wanted it done.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Once there was a great noise in our house,--a thumping and battering and grating.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was my own self dragging my big trunk down from the garret.
journeynounUS /ˈjourney/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was my own self dragging my big trunk down from the garret.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I did it myself because I wanted it done.
noise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once there was a great noise in our house,--a thumping and battering and grating.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I am strong in the wrists and weak in the temper; therefore I used the one and spared the other, and got the trunk downstairs myself.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
Once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once there was a great noise in our house,--a thumping and battering and grating.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Once there was a great noise in our house,--a thumping and battering and grating.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was my own self dragging my big trunk down from the garret.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
self
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was my own self dragging my big trunk down from the garret.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
spared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I am strong in the wrists and weak in the temper; therefore I used the one and spared the other, and got the trunk downstairs myself.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I am strong in the wrists and weak in the temper; therefore I used the one and spared the other, and got the trunk downstairs myself.
temper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I am strong in the wrists and weak in the temper; therefore I used the one and spared the other, and got the trunk downstairs myself.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was my own self dragging my big trunk down from the garret.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once there was a great noise in our house,--a thumping and battering and grating.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Now I am strong in the wrists and weak in the temper; therefore I used the one and spared the other, and got the trunk downstairs myself.
three-days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
thumping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once there was a great noise in our house,--a thumping and battering and grating.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
trunk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was my own self dragging my big trunk down from the garret.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I am strong in the wrists and weak in the temper; therefore I used the one and spared the other, and got the trunk downstairs myself.
wait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I did it myself because I wanted it done.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Once there was a great noise in our house,--a thumping and battering and grating.
weak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I am strong in the wrists and weak in the temper; therefore I used the one and spared the other, and got the trunk downstairs myself.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
wrists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I am strong in the wrists and weak in the temper; therefore I used the one and spared the other, and got the trunk downstairs myself.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading If I had said, "Halicarnassus, will you fetch my trunk down?" he would have asked me what trunk? and what did I want of it? and would not the other one be better? and couldn't I wait till after dinner?--and so the trunk would probably have had a three-days journey from garret to basement.
