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 “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
bald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
campaign
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
clerk's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
contented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
criednounUS /cried/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
crushing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
devised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
door-post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
drunken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
effect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
expense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
ironical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
khaki-clad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
lips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
questioner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
retort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
safe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by alcohol
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
statement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
uphold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.