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 In desperation he decided to make a break with practice.
afterwards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
bank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
become
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From this reading It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
begun
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From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
break
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From this reading In desperation he decided to make a break with practice.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
certain
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From this reading It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.
closed
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From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
communication
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.
compose
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From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In desperation he decided to make a break with practice.
desperation
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From this reading In desperation he decided to make a break with practice.
difficult
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From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
early
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From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
ease
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From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
Eric
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From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
extremely
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From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
go
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From this reading He would go to town.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.
immediately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
importance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.
kept
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From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
Kingfether
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In desperation he decided to make a break with practice.
midnight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
necessary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.
occupied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
page
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
practice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In desperation he decided to make a break with practice.
premises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.
serious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.
six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would go to town.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
urgent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
vital
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The last page of the letter which Mr. Eric Kingfether had begun with such ease in the early part of the morning was extremely difficult to compose.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to leave before the bank closed, but he could go immediately afterwards, though there was urgent work which should have kept him on the bank premises until six, and some private work of serious importance that should have occupied him until midnight.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would go to town.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had become necessary to say certain things; it was vital that he should not put his communication into writing.
