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 Throughout the next few days Jimmy found himself in a veritable whirlpool of perplexity and doubt.
affairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto, affairs had been going persistently against him.
after-hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Stork who had broken open the cases of cargo in the after-hold, to find them filled with service rifles for the British army.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Hitherto, affairs had been going persistently against him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Throughout the next few days Jimmy found himself in a veritable whirlpool of perplexity and doubt.
army
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Stork who had broken open the cases of cargo in the after-hold, to find them filled with service rifles for the British army.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Hitherto, affairs had been going persistently against him.
British
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Stork who had broken open the cases of cargo in the after-hold, to find them filled with service rifles for the British army.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was Stork who had broken open the cases of cargo in the after-hold, to find them filled with service rifles for the British army.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He knew quite well what he ought to do, but could see no way of doing it.
cargo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Stork who had broken open the cases of cargo in the after-hold, to find them filled with service rifles for the British army.
cases
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Stork who had broken open the cases of cargo in the after-hold, to find them filled with service rifles for the British army.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He knew quite well what he ought to do, but could see no way of doing it.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the next few days Jimmy found himself in a veritable whirlpool of perplexity and doubt.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He knew quite well what he ought to do, but could see no way of doing it.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew quite well what he ought to do, but could see no way of doing it.
doubt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the next few days Jimmy found himself in a veritable whirlpool of perplexity and doubt.
England
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the next few days Jimmy found himself in a veritable whirlpool of perplexity and doubt.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Stork who had broken open the cases of cargo in the after-hold, to find them filled with service rifles for the British army.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Stork who had broken open the cases of cargo in the after-hold, to find them filled with service rifles for the British army.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was Stork who had broken open the cases of cargo in the after-hold, to find them filled with service rifles for the British army.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Throughout the next few days Jimmy found himself in a veritable whirlpool of perplexity and doubt.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto, affairs had been going persistently against him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hitherto, affairs had been going persistently against him.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew quite well what he ought to do, but could see no way of doing it.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Hitherto, affairs had been going persistently against him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Throughout the next few days Jimmy found himself in a veritable whirlpool of perplexity and doubt.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
Hitherto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto, affairs had been going persistently against him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Throughout the next few days Jimmy found himself in a veritable whirlpool of perplexity and doubt.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He knew quite well what he ought to do, but could see no way of doing it.
Jimmy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the next few days Jimmy found himself in a veritable whirlpool of perplexity and doubt.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew quite well what he ought to do, but could see no way of doing it.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Throughout the next few days Jimmy found himself in a veritable whirlpool of perplexity and doubt.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He knew quite well what he ought to do, but could see no way of doing it.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Throughout the next few days Jimmy found himself in a veritable whirlpool of perplexity and doubt.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It was Stork who had broken open the cases of cargo in the after-hold, to find them filled with service rifles for the British army.
oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading He knew quite well what he ought to do, but could see no way of doing it.
perplexity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the next few days Jimmy found himself in a veritable whirlpool of perplexity and doubt.
persistently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto, affairs had been going persistently against him.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He knew quite well what he ought to do, but could see no way of doing it.
rifles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Stork who had broken open the cases of cargo in the after-hold, to find them filled with service rifles for the British army.
Rudolf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew quite well what he ought to do, but could see no way of doing it.
service
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Stork who had broken open the cases of cargo in the after-hold, to find them filled with service rifles for the British army.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
spy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
Stork
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Throughout the next few days Jimmy found himself in a veritable whirlpool of perplexity and doubt.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was Stork who had broken open the cases of cargo in the after-hold, to find them filled with service rifles for the British army.
ThroughoutprepositionUS /θruːˈaʊt/
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading Throughout the next few days Jimmy found himself in a veritable whirlpool of perplexity and doubt.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He knew quite well what he ought to do, but could see no way of doing it.
unconnected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
veritable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the next few days Jimmy found himself in a veritable whirlpool of perplexity and doubt.
war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew quite well what he ought to do, but could see no way of doing it.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew quite well what he ought to do, but could see no way of doing it.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He knew quite well what he ought to do, but could see no way of doing it.
whirlpool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the next few days Jimmy found himself in a veritable whirlpool of perplexity and doubt.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It was Stork who had broken open the cases of cargo in the after-hold, to find them filled with service rifles for the British army.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the first place, he knew that Rudolf Stork was a spy, and the man was probably on his way to England on some secret business not unconnected with the war.
