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 had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As soon as he perceived Boy he exclaimed in a delighted voice,-- “Why!
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
Bless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bless me, what a charming little human creature!
blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
Boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
cane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
carrying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
Castle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
charming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bless me, what a charming little human creature!
claw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
coat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
Crab
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
creaturenounUS /ˈcreature/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Bless me, what a charming little human creature!
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How do you do, my dear sir?”
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
delighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as he perceived Boy he exclaimed in a delighted voice,-- “Why!
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
exclaimed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as he perceived Boy he exclaimed in a delighted voice,-- “Why!
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
getting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
goldheaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
gracious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
higher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How do you do, my dear sir?”
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bless me, what a charming little human creature!
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Bless me, what a charming little human creature!
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Bless me, what a charming little human creature!
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading How do you do, my dear sir?”
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
noticed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
OOD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
perceived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as he perceived Boy he exclaimed in a delighted voice,-- “Why!
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
raft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
rapidly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
rising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
Sand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
shore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How do you do, my dear sir?”
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as he perceived Boy he exclaimed in a delighted voice,-- “Why!
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
tide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as he perceived Boy he exclaimed in a delighted voice,-- “Why!
waistcoat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
walking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Bless me, what a charming little human creature!
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading OOD gracious! whatever am I to do now?” thought Boy, for the tide was rising higher and higher every moment, and there seemed to be no possible way of getting back to the shore again.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just decided to return to Sand Castle and see if he could not find something to make a raft of when he noticed a very large Crab in a white waistcoat and dark blue coat carrying a goldheaded cane in one claw, and walking rapidly towards him.
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as he perceived Boy he exclaimed in a delighted voice,-- “Why!
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading How do you do, my dear sir?”
