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 It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
act
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
admittance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
announced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There are five rooms in the suite, and I merely wish you to satisfy yourself that Mercedes is there, or is not there, and then to return to me to report.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
BAY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PLOTTERS BROUGHT TO BAY.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
BROUGHTnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE PLOTTERS BROUGHT TO BAY.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
comparatively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
Danton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
detective
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I will do the rest.”
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
finished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are five rooms in the suite, and I merely wish you to satisfy yourself that Mercedes is there, or is not there, and then to return to me to report.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
gain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
glanced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There are five rooms in the suite, and I merely wish you to satisfy yourself that Mercedes is there, or is not there, and then to return to me to report.
interior
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There are five rooms in the suite, and I merely wish you to satisfy yourself that Mercedes is there, or is not there, and then to return to me to report.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
Mercedes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are five rooms in the suite, and I merely wish you to satisfy yourself that Mercedes is there, or is not there, and then to return to me to report.
merely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are five rooms in the suite, and I merely wish you to satisfy yourself that Mercedes is there, or is not there, and then to return to me to report.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There are five rooms in the suite, and I merely wish you to satisfy yourself that Mercedes is there, or is not there, and then to return to me to report.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There are five rooms in the suite, and I merely wish you to satisfy yourself that Mercedes is there, or is not there, and then to return to me to report.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
plan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
PLOTTERS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PLOTTERS BROUGHT TO BAY.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
report
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are five rooms in the suite, and I merely wish you to satisfy yourself that Mercedes is there, or is not there, and then to return to me to report.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I will do the rest.”
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are five rooms in the suite, and I merely wish you to satisfy yourself that Mercedes is there, or is not there, and then to return to me to report.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
satisfy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are five rooms in the suite, and I merely wish you to satisfy yourself that Mercedes is there, or is not there, and then to return to me to report.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
snap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
suite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are five rooms in the suite, and I merely wish you to satisfy yourself that Mercedes is there, or is not there, and then to return to me to report.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PLOTTERS BROUGHT TO BAY.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are five rooms in the suite, and I merely wish you to satisfy yourself that Mercedes is there, or is not there, and then to return to me to report.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE PLOTTERS BROUGHT TO BAY.
unlock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
watch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
wish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are five rooms in the suite, and I merely wish you to satisfy yourself that Mercedes is there, or is not there, and then to return to me to report.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to with a snap, and announced that it was time to act.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so that you can gain admittance to those rooms.
yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading There are five rooms in the suite, and I merely wish you to satisfy yourself that Mercedes is there, or is not there, and then to return to me to report.
