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 In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
amazed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inspector Parr wiped the perspiration from his streaming forehead, and faced his amazed audience.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
appeared
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From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
audience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inspector Parr wiped the perspiration from his streaming forehead, and faced his amazed audience.
bag
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They surrounded him, plying him with questions, but he could only shake his head.
captured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
cloth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They surrounded him, plying him with questions, but he could only shake his head.
deft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
excuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inspector Parr wiped the perspiration from his streaming forehead, and faced his amazed audience.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
forehead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inspector Parr wiped the perspiration from his streaming forehead, and faced his amazed audience.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
GentlemennounUS /gentlemen/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They surrounded him, plying him with questions, but he could only shake his head.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
hurried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
Inspector
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inspector Parr wiped the perspiration from his streaming forehead, and faced his amazed audience.
jerked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
manacled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
mysteriously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
nightsnounUS /naɪts/
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They surrounded him, plying him with questions, but he could only shake his head.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
Parr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inspector Parr wiped the perspiration from his streaming forehead, and faced his amazed audience.
Parr's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
perspirationnounUS /ˌpɜːrspəˈreɪʃən/
sweat produced by the body
From this reading Inspector Parr wiped the perspiration from his streaming forehead, and faced his amazed audience.
pistol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
plying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They surrounded him, plying him with questions, but he could only shake his head.
pocket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
questions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They surrounded him, plying him with questions, but he could only shake his head.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
shake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They surrounded him, plying him with questions, but he could only shake his head.
shakily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
spy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
streaming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inspector Parr wiped the perspiration from his streaming forehead, and faced his amazed audience.
surrounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They surrounded him, plying him with questions, but he could only shake his head.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They surrounded him, plying him with questions, but he could only shake his head.
thirdnounUS /third/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A deft hand jerked the pistol that he carried from his pocket, a third man dropped a cloth bag over his head and face, and he was hurried from the room.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
to-morrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
wiped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inspector Parr wiped the perspiration from his streaming forehead, and faced his amazed audience.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading They surrounded him, plying him with questions, but he could only shake his head.
Yale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the room three men had mysteriously appeared--the three who had captured Parr’s spy two nights before--and in a second Yale was manacled hand and foot.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Gentlemen,” he said a little shakily, “if you will excuse me for to-night I will tell you the whole of this story to-morrow.”
