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 Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Fortune favoured me again.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
clothes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdrɛdfəl/
extremely frightening or unpleasant
From this reading A good enough tale in itself; but the dreadful pickle I was in made it out of the question.
dry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A good enough tale in itself; but the dreadful pickle I was in made it out of the question.
expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/
to think that something will happen
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
favoured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortune favoured me again.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
FortunenounUS /ˈfortune/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Fortune favoured me again.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A good enough tale in itself; but the dreadful pickle I was in made it out of the question.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
harbourage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading A good enough tale in itself; but the dreadful pickle I was in made it out of the question.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
lie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A good enough tale in itself; but the dreadful pickle I was in made it out of the question.
McRankine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
meanwhilenounUS /ˈmeanwhile/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A good enough tale in itself; but the dreadful pickle I was in made it out of the question.
orders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A good enough tale in itself; but the dreadful pickle I was in made it out of the question.
pickle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A good enough tale in itself; but the dreadful pickle I was in made it out of the question.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
Rowley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
Swanston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
tale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A good enough tale in itself; but the dreadful pickle I was in made it out of the question.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Rowley had received his orders last night: he was to say that I had met a friend, and Mrs. McRankine was not to expect me before morning.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It was indeed high time I should be gone from Swanston; but what I was to do in the meanwhile was another question.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading I could not go home till I had found harbourage, a fire to dry my clothes at, and a bed where I might lie till they were ready.
