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 The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
acridadjectiveUS /ˈæk.rɪd/
Having an unpleasantly bitter or pungent taste or smell.
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
alighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
American
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From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
appeared
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From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
beheld
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
big
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From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
bow
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From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
boy's
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From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
broad
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From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
carefully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
clutching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
comparatively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
craning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
criminal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
curled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
dandified
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
dapper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
dress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
English
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
especially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
excellent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
figure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
fish-bone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
gestures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
half-conscious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
lively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
manners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
monoclenounUS /ˈmɑː.nə.kəl/
A single round eyeglass kept in position by the muscles around the eye, worn by gentleman aristocrats.
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
moth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
movements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
neck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
parted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
railings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
remembered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
ribbon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
slung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
specialist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
tie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
tricks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
urbane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
Warner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
