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 On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
action
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her maiden name: so she used that again, did she?—he stepped back into the road to look up at the windows of the first floor.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her maiden name: so she used that again, did she?—he stepped back into the road to look up at the windows of the first floor.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He found it hiding behind a much larger mansion; and having read the name, “Mrs. Irene Heron”—Heron, forsooth!
birth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
block
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left his hansom on the Embankment, and walked up to the Old Church, uncertain of the block of flats where he knew she lived.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
chose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
Church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left his hansom on the Embankment, and walked up to the Old Church, uncertain of the block of flats where he knew she lived.
club
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
courage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
daring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
daylight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
delicacy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Her maiden name: so she used that again, did she?—he stepped back into the road to look up at the windows of the first floor.
dining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
Embankment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left his hansom on the Embankment, and walked up to the Old Church, uncertain of the block of flats where he knew she lived.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
extra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
failed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her maiden name: so she used that again, did she?—he stepped back into the road to look up at the windows of the first floor.
flats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left his hansom on the Embankment, and walked up to the Old Church, uncertain of the block of flats where he knew she lived.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her maiden name: so she used that again, did she?—he stepped back into the road to look up at the windows of the first floor.
forsooth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found it hiding behind a much larger mansion; and having read the name, “Mrs. Irene Heron”—Heron, forsooth!
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He found it hiding behind a much larger mansion; and having read the name, “Mrs. Irene Heron”—Heron, forsooth!
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
hansom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left his hansom on the Embankment, and walked up to the Old Church, uncertain of the block of flats where he knew she lived.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He found it hiding behind a much larger mansion; and having read the name, “Mrs. Irene Heron”—Heron, forsooth!
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her maiden name: so she used that again, did she?—he stepped back into the road to look up at the windows of the first floor.
Heron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found it hiding behind a much larger mansion; and having read the name, “Mrs. Irene Heron”—Heron, forsooth!
hiding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found it hiding behind a much larger mansion; and having read the name, “Mrs. Irene Heron”—Heron, forsooth!
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Her maiden name: so she used that again, did she?—he stepped back into the road to look up at the windows of the first floor.
Irene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He found it hiding behind a much larger mansion; and having read the name, “Mrs. Irene Heron”—Heron, forsooth!
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left his hansom on the Embankment, and walked up to the Old Church, uncertain of the block of flats where he knew she lived.
larger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found it hiding behind a much larger mansion; and having read the name, “Mrs. Irene Heron”—Heron, forsooth!
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He left his hansom on the Embankment, and walked up to the Old Church, uncertain of the block of flats where he knew she lived.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
likely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left his hansom on the Embankment, and walked up to the Old Church, uncertain of the block of flats where he knew she lived.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her maiden name: so she used that again, did she?—he stepped back into the road to look up at the windows of the first floor.
maidennoun, literaryUS /ˈmeɪdən/
a young woman who is not married
From this reading Her maiden name: so she used that again, did she?—he stepped back into the road to look up at the windows of the first floor.
mainly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
mansion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found it hiding behind a much larger mansion; and having read the name, “Mrs. Irene Heron”—Heron, forsooth!
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found it hiding behind a much larger mansion; and having read the name, “Mrs. Irene Heron”—Heron, forsooth!
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found it hiding behind a much larger mansion; and having read the name, “Mrs. Irene Heron”—Heron, forsooth!
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He found it hiding behind a much larger mansion; and having read the name, “Mrs. Irene Heron”—Heron, forsooth!
needed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He left his hansom on the Embankment, and walked up to the Old Church, uncertain of the block of flats where he knew she lived.
Old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left his hansom on the Embankment, and walked up to the Old Church, uncertain of the block of flats where he knew she lived.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
partly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found it hiding behind a much larger mansion; and having read the name, “Mrs. Irene Heron”—Heron, forsooth!
requirednounUS /required/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
resolution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her maiden name: so she used that again, did she?—he stepped back into the road to look up at the windows of the first floor.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He left his hansom on the Embankment, and walked up to the Old Church, uncertain of the block of flats where he knew she lived.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Her maiden name: so she used that again, did she?—he stepped back into the road to look up at the windows of the first floor.
Soames
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
stepped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her maiden name: so she used that again, did she?—he stepped back into the road to look up at the windows of the first floor.
sufficient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Her maiden name: so she used that again, did she?—he stepped back into the road to look up at the windows of the first floor.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
Tuesday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
uncertain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left his hansom on the Embankment, and walked up to the Old Church, uncertain of the block of flats where he knew she lived.
undertaken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left his hansom on the Embankment, and walked up to the Old Church, uncertain of the block of flats where he knew she lived.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her maiden name: so she used that again, did she?—he stepped back into the road to look up at the windows of the first floor.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left his hansom on the Embankment, and walked up to the Old Church, uncertain of the block of flats where he knew she lived.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading He left his hansom on the Embankment, and walked up to the Old Church, uncertain of the block of flats where he knew she lived.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her maiden name: so she used that again, did she?—he stepped back into the road to look up at the windows of the first floor.
wine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose the evening, indeed, partly because Irene was more likely to be in, but mainly because he had failed to find sufficient resolution by daylight, had needed wine to give him extra daring.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading On a Tuesday evening after dining at his club Soames set out to do what required more courage and perhaps less delicacy than anything he had yet undertaken in his life—save perhaps his birth, and one other action.