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 Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
anxious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
arrive
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From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
awake
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From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
Bayley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?
bed
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From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
chapter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
Company
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From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
confess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?
couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/
two people or things considered together
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
described
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
discovery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
doing
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From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
endeavouring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?
hiring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
hit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Upon one thing, however, I had quite made up my mind.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
interests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
Martin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Upon one thing, however, I had quite made up my mind.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Upon one thing, however, I had quite made up my mind.
Only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?
prevent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
previous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
proved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Upon one thing, however, I had quite made up my mind.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?
rid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?
ruffians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
satisfactory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
secure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
services
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
solution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Upon one thing, however, I had quite made up my mind.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
understanding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upon one thing, however, I had quite made up my mind.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
wanting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What possible reason could Mr. Bayley have for wanting to rid himself of me?
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I must confess that the discovery I had made behind St. Martin's church, and which I described at the end of the previous chapter, had proved too much for me.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the morning before he had been anxious to secure my services in the interests of his Company, and now here he was hiring a couple of ruffians to prevent me from doing my work, if not to take my life.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading When I reached my hotel again, and went to bed, I lay awake half the night endeavouring to arrive at an understanding of it; but, try how I would, I could not hit upon a satisfactory solution.
