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 He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
accomplish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He shuffled across the armory floor and out through the big front door under the tower into the street.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading General Chick did not wait long at the armory after his verbal encounter with Sergeant Barriscale.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
armory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading General Chick did not wait long at the armory after his verbal encounter with Sergeant Barriscale.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading General Chick did not wait long at the armory after his verbal encounter with Sergeant Barriscale.
averted
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From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
Barriscale
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From this reading General Chick did not wait long at the armory after his verbal encounter with Sergeant Barriscale.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
Ben
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He shuffled across the armory floor and out through the big front door under the tower into the street.
bluffadjectiveUS /blʌf/
direct and plain-spoken in manner, sometimes seeming rough
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
campaign
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
Chick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading General Chick did not wait long at the armory after his verbal encounter with Sergeant Barriscale.
claimed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
close
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
confident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
correct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
declaration
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
defeat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading General Chick did not wait long at the armory after his verbal encounter with Sergeant Barriscale.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He shuffled across the armory floor and out through the big front door under the tower into the street.
effect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
encounter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading General Chick did not wait long at the armory after his verbal encounter with Sergeant Barriscale.
estimate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
evolved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He shuffled across the armory floor and out through the big front door under the tower into the street.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He shuffled across the armory floor and out through the big front door under the tower into the street.
General
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading General Chick did not wait long at the armory after his verbal encounter with Sergeant Barriscale.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading General Chick did not wait long at the armory after his verbal encounter with Sergeant Barriscale.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He shuffled across the armory floor and out through the big front door under the tower into the street.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
likely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
listeners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading General Chick did not wait long at the armory after his verbal encounter with Sergeant Barriscale.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
majority
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
McCormack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading General Chick did not wait long at the armory after his verbal encounter with Sergeant Barriscale.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He shuffled across the armory floor and out through the big front door under the tower into the street.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
plan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
remaining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
result
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
Sergeant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading General Chick did not wait long at the armory after his verbal encounter with Sergeant Barriscale.
seven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
shuffled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He shuffled across the armory floor and out through the big front door under the tower into the street.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
situation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He shuffled across the armory floor and out through the big front door under the tower into the street.
systematic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading General Chick did not wait long at the armory after his verbal encounter with Sergeant Barriscale.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
thorough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had seemed so confident; his campaign had been so thorough and systematic, that now, at the close of it, he was more than likely to be correct in his estimate of the result.
threatened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He shuffled across the armory floor and out through the big front door under the tower into the street.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
tower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He shuffled across the armory floor and out through the big front door under the tower into the street.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He shuffled across the armory floor and out through the big front door under the tower into the street.
verbal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading General Chick did not wait long at the armory after his verbal encounter with Sergeant Barriscale.
votes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
wait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading General Chick did not wait long at the armory after his verbal encounter with Sergeant Barriscale.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading General Chick did not wait long at the armory after his verbal encounter with Sergeant Barriscale.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He wondered whether Ben Barriscale really knew what he was talking about when he claimed to have a majority of seven votes, or whether his declaration was simply a bluff made for the effect it might have on his listeners.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He knew that he could accomplish nothing by remaining there, and he had a feeling that if he could only see McCormack and talk the situation over with him some plan might be evolved by which threatened defeat would be averted.
