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 Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
aid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
bar
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From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
bashed
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From this reading "What else would the bloke do when you bashed his hat?" said the maiden from the dingle.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
bloke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What else would the bloke do when you bashed his hat?" said the maiden from the dingle.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
Chinese
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From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
coat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
conceivably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
dingle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What else would the bloke do when you bashed his hat?" said the maiden from the dingle.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "What else would the bloke do when you bashed his hat?" said the maiden from the dingle.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Henrietta," I said, "what have you done with my coat?"
effect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What else would the bloke do when you bashed his hat?" said the maiden from the dingle.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
formed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "What else would the bloke do when you bashed his hat?" said the maiden from the dingle.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
harder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What else would the bloke do when you bashed his hat?" said the maiden from the dingle.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Henrietta," I said, "what have you done with my coat?"
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "He took me unawares," said I.
Henrietta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Henrietta," I said, "what have you done with my coat?"
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "What else would the bloke do when you bashed his hat?" said the maiden from the dingle.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "He took me unawares," said I.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
knock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
Lo-tun-an
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
maidennoun, literaryUS /ˈmeɪdən/
a young woman who is not married
From this reading "What else would the bloke do when you bashed his hat?" said the maiden from the dingle.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "He took me unawares," said I.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
oaken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
poet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
quoted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "He took me unawares," said I.
stile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
straighten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Having quoted a few lines of the Chinese poet Lo-tun-an to the effect that, however hard a knock might be, it might always conceivably be harder, I looked about for my coat, but could by no means find it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "What else would the bloke do when you bashed his hat?" said the maiden from the dingle.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "He took me unawares," said I.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
unawares
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "He took me unawares," said I.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What else would the bloke do when you bashed his hat?" said the maiden from the dingle.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading "What else would the bloke do when you bashed his hat?" said the maiden from the dingle.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading By this time I was able to straighten myself up by the aid of the oaken bar which formed the top of the stile.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Henrietta," I said, "what have you done with my coat?"
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "What else would the bloke do when you bashed his hat?" said the maiden from the dingle.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What else would the bloke do when you bashed his hat?" said the maiden from the dingle.
