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 We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
announced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading ‘Not I,’ I answered.
arrival
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From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
blare
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From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
bosom
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From this reading ‘Nay, then, it must have fallen from my bosom during our ruffle.
bugles
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From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
chanced
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From this reading Have you chanced to see my silken kerchief?’
darkness
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From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading ‘Nay, then, it must have fallen from my bosom during our ruffle.
expectingverbUS /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/
thinking that somebody or something will arrive
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Nay, then, it must have fallen from my bosom during our ruffle.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
friends
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From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
gave
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From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
horse
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From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘Not I,’ I answered.
ill-turn
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From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
inn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
kerchief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Have you chanced to see my silken kerchief?’
kettledrums
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From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
mile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
musically
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From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading ‘Nay, then, it must have fallen from my bosom during our ruffle.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Have you chanced to see my silken kerchief?’
NayexclamationUS /neɪ/
an old word for “no”
From this reading ‘Nay, then, it must have fallen from my bosom during our ruffle.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
played
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From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
rat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
regiment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
roll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
ruffle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Nay, then, it must have fallen from my bosom during our ruffle.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
Saxon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Have you chanced to see my silken kerchief?’
silken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Have you chanced to see my silken kerchief?’
slip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
smelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
springald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
swelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Nay, then, it must have fallen from my bosom during our ruffle.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Have you chanced to see my silken kerchief?’
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness announced the arrival of the regiment of horse which our friends at the inn had been expecting.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Have you chanced to see my silken kerchief?’
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘It is as well, perhaps,’ said Saxon, ‘that we gave them the slip, for that young springald might have smelled a rat and played us some ill-turn.
