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 "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
admit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And you burst suddenly into it.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
bit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
burst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And you burst suddenly into it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Well, the stakes are down and the reserve open and you can explore where you will.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, the stakes are down and the reserve open and you can explore where you will.
excuses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the object excuses you, since it was to try and save her.
explore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, the stakes are down and the reserve open and you can explore where you will.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
guess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But the object excuses you, since it was to try and save her.
Holmes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading And you burst suddenly into it.
intruders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And you burst suddenly into it.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
object
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the object excuses you, since it was to try and save her.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Well, the stakes are down and the reserve open and you can explore where you will.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
point-blank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
relations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
reserve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading But the object excuses you, since it was to try and save her.
serious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
shy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading But the object excuses you, since it was to try and save her.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
souls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
stakes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, the stakes are down and the reserve open and you can explore where you will.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading And you burst suddenly into it.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But the object excuses you, since it was to try and save her.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the object excuses you, since it was to try and save her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the object excuses you, since it was to try and save her.
welcome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
Well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, the stakes are down and the reserve open and you can explore where you will.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.