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 It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He wandered about killing time and wishing everything and every one at the bottom of the sea.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
amused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He wandered about killing time and wishing everything and every one at the bottom of the sea.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He wandered about killing time and wishing everything and every one at the bottom of the sea.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
bored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
bottom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wandered about killing time and wishing everything and every one at the bottom of the sea.
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
busy and excited activity
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
cheating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
claim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
consciencenounUS /ˈkɑːnʃəns/
the inner sense of right and wrong
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micky stayed in Paris four days; the four longest days of his life.
deadly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
Esther
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He wandered about killing time and wishing everything and every one at the bottom of the sea.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading He wandered about killing time and wishing everything and every one at the bottom of the sea.
fond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micky stayed in Paris four days; the four longest days of his life.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wandered about killing time and wishing everything and every one at the bottom of the sea.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Micky stayed in Paris four days; the four longest days of his life.
home-sickness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
hoped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Micky stayed in Paris four days; the four longest days of his life.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
killing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wandered about killing time and wishing everything and every one at the bottom of the sea.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Micky stayed in Paris four days; the four longest days of his life.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
longest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micky stayed in Paris four days; the four longest days of his life.
love-letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
managed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
mean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
Micky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micky stayed in Paris four days; the four longest days of his life.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
Monday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
nerves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
noise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Micky stayed in Paris four days; the four longest days of his life.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He wandered about killing time and wishing everything and every one at the bottom of the sea.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
Paris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micky stayed in Paris four days; the four longest days of his life.
playing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
realised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
salve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wandered about killing time and wishing everything and every one at the bottom of the sea.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
smallest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
stayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micky stayed in Paris four days; the four longest days of his life.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Micky stayed in Paris four days; the four longest days of his life.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He wandered about killing time and wishing everything and every one at the bottom of the sea.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
trick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
wandered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wandered about killing time and wishing everything and every one at the bottom of the sea.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
ways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading He tried to salve his conscience by making up his mind to leave on the Monday morning whatever happened; if there was no letter by that time there would never be one.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
wishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wandered about killing time and wishing everything and every one at the bottom of the sea.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It seemed impossible that he had ever managed to have a good time over here--the noise and bustle of the streets got on his nerves; the things that had always amused him before bored him and left him cold; he thought of London with a deadly sort of home-sickness.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
write
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther did not mean to write to him, he was sure, and in some ways he hoped she would not; he realised that he was playing a mean trick on her, cheating her out of fond words and a love-letter to which he had not the smallest claim.
