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 I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
advise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As an expert in stones he was always prepared to advise the police.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As an expert in stones he was always prepared to advise the police.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As an expert in stones he was always prepared to advise the police.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
arrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As an expert in stones he was always prepared to advise the police.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They were grouped round the case in which the breastplate of the Jewish priest had been exposed.
bent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plate had been taken out and laid upon the glass top of the case, and the three heads were bent over it.
breastplate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were grouped round the case in which the breastplate of the Jewish priest had been exposed.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were grouped round the case in which the breastplate of the Jewish priest had been exposed.
Company
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
diamond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
directions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
elderly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
expert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As an expert in stones he was always prepared to advise the police.
exposedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspəʊzd/
left open to danger or view left open to danger or public view
From this reading They were grouped round the case in which the breastplate of the Jewish priest had been exposed.
following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plate had been taken out and laid upon the glass top of the case, and the three heads were bent over it.
grouped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were grouped round the case in which the breastplate of the Jewish priest had been exposed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It is obvious that it has been tampered with,” said Mortimer.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
heads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plate had been taken out and laid upon the glass top of the case, and the three heads were bent over it.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
inspector
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It is obvious that it has been tampered with,” said Mortimer.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The plate had been taken out and laid upon the glass top of the case, and the three heads were bent over it.
Jewish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were grouped round the case in which the breastplate of the Jewish priest had been exposed.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plate had been taken out and laid upon the glass top of the case, and the three heads were bent over it.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
merchants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
Morson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
Mortimer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is obvious that it has been tampered with,” said Mortimer.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
obvious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is obvious that it has been tampered with,” said Mortimer.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plate had been taken out and laid upon the glass top of the case, and the three heads were bent over it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The plate had been taken out and laid upon the glass top of the case, and the three heads were bent over it.
partners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
plate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plate had been taken out and laid upon the glass top of the case, and the three heads were bent over it.
police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
prepared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As an expert in stones he was always prepared to advise the police.
priest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were grouped round the case in which the breastplate of the Jewish priest had been exposed.
proved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
Purvis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were grouped round the case in which the breastplate of the Jewish priest had been exposed.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is obvious that it has been tampered with,” said Mortimer.
stones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As an expert in stones he was always prepared to advise the police.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plate had been taken out and laid upon the glass top of the case, and the three heads were bent over it.
tampered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is obvious that it has been tampered with,” said Mortimer.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were grouped round the case in which the breastplate of the Jewish priest had been exposed.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plate had been taken out and laid upon the glass top of the case, and the three heads were bent over it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plate had been taken out and laid upon the glass top of the case, and the three heads were bent over it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The plate had been taken out and laid upon the glass top of the case, and the three heads were bent over it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
well-known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were grouped round the case in which the breastplate of the Jewish priest had been exposed.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They were grouped round the case in which the breastplate of the Jewish priest had been exposed.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I was not long in following his directions, but I found when I arrived that he had already returned with a police inspector, and another elderly gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Purvis, one of the partners of Morson and Company, the well-known diamond merchants.
