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 Captain Crouch was a man who seldom--if ever--made up his mind in a hurry.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
alter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
aspect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
Burke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Captain Crouch was a man who seldom--if ever--made up his mind in a hurry.
career-except
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this particular case, he had made up his mind that Jimmy was a German spy.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
charitable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
consider
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
Crouch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Crouch was a man who seldom--if ever--made up his mind in a hurry.
custom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
decision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
definite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
disposednounUS /ˈdisposed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
doubt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
equallynounUS /ˈequally/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Captain Crouch was a man who seldom--if ever--made up his mind in a hurry.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
formed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
German
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this particular case, he had made up his mind that Jimmy was a German spy.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Captain Crouch was a man who seldom--if ever--made up his mind in a hurry.
hurry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Crouch was a man who seldom--if ever--made up his mind in a hurry.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Captain Crouch was a man who seldom--if ever--made up his mind in a hurry.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Captain Crouch was a man who seldom--if ever--made up his mind in a hurry.
indebted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
Jimmy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Crouch was a man who seldom--if ever--made up his mind in a hurry.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Crouch was a man who seldom--if ever--made up his mind in a hurry.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Captain Crouch was a man who seldom--if ever--made up his mind in a hurry.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
opinions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
particular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this particular case, he had made up his mind that Jimmy was a German spy.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
seldom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Crouch was a man who seldom--if ever--made up his mind in a hurry.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
spy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this particular case, he had made up his mind that Jimmy was a German spy.
startnounUS /start/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
success
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In this particular case, he had made up his mind that Jimmy was a German spy.
throughoutprepositionUS /θruːˈaʊt/
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Crouch was a man who seldom--if ever--made up his mind in a hurry.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Captain Crouch was a man who seldom--if ever--made up his mind in a hurry.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
ways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It was his custom to consider every aspect of a question before he came to any definite decision; but, when once his opinions had been formed, he was not disposed to alter them.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Captain Crouch was a man who seldom--if ever--made up his mind in a hurry.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Captain Crouch had made a great success of life, there can be no shadow of doubt; and it is equally certain that he was never indebted to any one throughout the whole course of his career-except later on (as we shall see) to Jimmy Burke himself.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a hard man in many ways--one who, having had everything against him from the start, had had to make his own way in a world that is not so charitable as some may think.
