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 He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
accident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
all
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From this reading The detective pondered seriously upon all these things as he sat there.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The detective pondered seriously upon all these things as he sat there.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
Bateman's
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From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
believed
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From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
boy
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From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
care
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From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
carelessness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
conceal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
crime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
detective
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The detective pondered seriously upon all these things as he sat there.
devil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
diamonds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
employees
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From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
entrance
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From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
fire
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From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
fired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
gang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The detective pondered seriously upon all these things as he sat there.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
humble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
incendiarism
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
indicate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
insurance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
More
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
necessitated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
partners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
Peter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
pillage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
pondered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The detective pondered seriously upon all these things as he sat there.
portable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
possibility
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
printer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
profitable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
result
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
robbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The detective pondered seriously upon all these things as he sat there.
scope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
sequence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
seriously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The detective pondered seriously upon all these things as he sat there.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
suggested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
surreptitious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The detective pondered seriously upon all these things as he sat there.
theatre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
theatre's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
theft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The detective pondered seriously upon all these things as he sat there.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The detective pondered seriously upon all these things as he sat there.
thieves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The detective pondered seriously upon all these things as he sat there.
Thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
tool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
traces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The detective pondered seriously upon all these things as he sat there.
valuables
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The fire had been at first supposed to be the result of accident or of carelessness on the part of the theatre's employees, until Peter Bateman's story had suggested to the police the possibility that theft had necessitated that sequence of pillage, which is incendiarism.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Thus the detective had believed that the theatre had been robbed by some gang of thieves, of whom Ned was but the humble tool, and then fired to conceal the traces of the more profitable crime.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading More than all, he wondered how the little printer's devil should know or care anything about the insurance of the theatre, and what the question of the insurance had to do with his surreptitious entrance and the theft of the diamonds and other portable valuables.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading He wondered that as yet the boy should have done nothing to indicate his partners in a crime so far beyond his own scope.