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 Mr. Emanuel Legge had a great deal of business to do in London.
admonish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
amenities
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From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
announcing
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From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
any
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From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Stevens, the porter, had been reinstated, though his conduct, in Emanuel’s opinion, had been open to the gravest suspicion.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Emanuel Legge had a great deal of business to do in London.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
changed
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From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
closing
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From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
club
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
conduct
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From this reading Stevens, the porter, had been reinstated, though his conduct, in Emanuel’s opinion, had been open to the gravest suspicion.
deal
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From this reading Mr. Emanuel Legge had a great deal of business to do in London.
dispensed
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From this reading In other ways he was a reliable man, and one whose services were not lightly to be dispensed with.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Mr. Emanuel Legge had a great deal of business to do in London.
Emanuel
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From this reading Mr. Emanuel Legge had a great deal of business to do in London.
Emanuel's
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From this reading Stevens, the porter, had been reinstated, though his conduct, in Emanuel’s opinion, had been open to the gravest suspicion.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
gravest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stevens, the porter, had been reinstated, though his conduct, in Emanuel’s opinion, had been open to the gravest suspicion.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mr. Emanuel Legge had a great deal of business to do in London.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr. Emanuel Legge had a great deal of business to do in London.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In other ways he was a reliable man, and one whose services were not lightly to be dispensed with.
Highlow
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From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Stevens, the porter, had been reinstated, though his conduct, in Emanuel’s opinion, had been open to the gravest suspicion.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Emanuel Legge had a great deal of business to do in London.
individual
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From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
inquisitive
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From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
intention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
interfered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
Legge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Emanuel Legge had a great deal of business to do in London.
lightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In other ways he was a reliable man, and one whose services were not lightly to be dispensed with.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Emanuel Legge had a great deal of business to do in London.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In other ways he was a reliable man, and one whose services were not lightly to be dispensed with.
many
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From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
members
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Emanuel Legge had a great deal of business to do in London.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Emanuel Legge had a great deal of business to do in London.
officers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In other ways he was a reliable man, and one whose services were not lightly to be dispensed with.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Stevens, the porter, had been reinstated, though his conduct, in Emanuel’s opinion, had been open to the gravest suspicion.
opinion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stevens, the porter, had been reinstated, though his conduct, in Emanuel’s opinion, had been open to the gravest suspicion.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In other ways he was a reliable man, and one whose services were not lightly to be dispensed with.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
patrons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
porter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stevens, the porter, had been reinstated, though his conduct, in Emanuel’s opinion, had been open to the gravest suspicion.
premises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
reinstated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stevens, the porter, had been reinstated, though his conduct, in Emanuel’s opinion, had been open to the gravest suspicion.
reliable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In other ways he was a reliable man, and one whose services were not lightly to be dispensed with.
reluctant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
retiring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
sadly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
sails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
services
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In other ways he was a reliable man, and one whose services were not lightly to be dispensed with.
staff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
Stevens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stevens, the porter, had been reinstated, though his conduct, in Emanuel’s opinion, had been open to the gravest suspicion.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
suspicion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stevens, the porter, had been reinstated, though his conduct, in Emanuel’s opinion, had been open to the gravest suspicion.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Stevens, the porter, had been reinstated, though his conduct, in Emanuel’s opinion, had been open to the gravest suspicion.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mr. Emanuel Legge had a great deal of business to do in London.
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
unnaturally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
visitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In other ways he was a reliable man, and one whose services were not lightly to be dispensed with.
ways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In other ways he was a reliable man, and one whose services were not lightly to be dispensed with.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading In other ways he was a reliable man, and one whose services were not lightly to be dispensed with.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To his surprise, when he had come to admonish the porter, that individual had taken the wind out of his sails by announcing his intention of retiring unless the staff was changed.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The closing of the club had sadly interfered with the amenities of the Highlow, for many of its patrons and members were, not unnaturally, reluctant to be found on premises subject, at any moment, to the visitation of inquisitive police officers.
