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 had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
abruptly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
afraid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was afraid that you were engaged.”
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “So I am.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
apology
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson,” he said cordially.
autumn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson,” he said cordially.
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson,” he said cordially.
conversation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
cordially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson,” he said cordially.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson,” he said cordially.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson,” he said cordially.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
elderly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
engaged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was afraid that you were engaged.”
fiery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
florid-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson,” he said cordially.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson,” he said cordially.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
Holmes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
intrusion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson,” he said cordially.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
possibly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson,” he said cordially.
pullednounUS /pulled/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson,” he said cordially.
Sherlock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “So I am.
stout
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I was afraid that you were engaged.”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson,” he said cordially.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
Watson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson,” he said cordially.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “I was afraid that you were engaged.”
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
withdraw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson,” he said cordially.
