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 BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
aside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
bolted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
BROKENnounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
Clarkson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
Coal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
combination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
Company
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
composure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.
consulted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
crawling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
crowded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
deal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
delayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
dirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
down-town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
envelope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.
expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
four-foot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
GLASS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
hastily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
hurry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
Kansas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
kicked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
knelt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
limits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
mail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
mining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.
Neponset
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.
pullednounUS /pulled/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.
rattling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
rustled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
safe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
Saxton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
sleeper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
station
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
suit-case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
swung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Coal mining is a dirty business, and there are limits to the things that can be crowded into a suit-case.
Trust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
tumblers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
veins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been crawling through four-foot veins of Kansas coal in the interest of the Neponset Trust Company, and had been delayed a day longer than he had expected.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
watch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.
wear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He continued to be in a good deal of a hurry after he reached his office, and he kicked aside the mail which rustled under the door as he opened it, and knelt hastily before the safe and began rattling the tumblers of the combination.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He pulled out a long envelope and then with more composure consulted his watch.
worse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROKEN GLASS John Saxton was a good deal the worse for wear as he swung himself from a sleeper in the Clarkson station and bolted for a down-town car.