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 Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
absolute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
actions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
astonishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
authority
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
certainty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
child's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.
claptrap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
conjuring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
CROSS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
crystal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
decision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.
delay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
difficulty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.
discovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.
doubt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.
essential
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.
final
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.
finished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
game
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
guessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
hiding-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
infallible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
joking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
list
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
LORRAINE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
lunch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
Lupin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
mastery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
NeverthelessadverbUS /ˌnevərðəˈles/
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
perform
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.
perspicacity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.
playing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
possessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
presented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.
promptness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
recovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.
rubber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
stopper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
transition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
tricks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
Twenty-seven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
yield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.