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 CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
afraid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not that he was afraid of his wife!
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
Birmingham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
convenient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
CORNER-STONE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
Edward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
Euston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not that he was afraid even of his mother!
expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/
to show or communicate a feeling or idea
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
fashion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.
Five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
half-furtive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
Henry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
local
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not that he was afraid even of his mother!
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.
occurred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
previous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
profitable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
spend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
summoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
telegraph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
Towns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
unostentatious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.
usually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.
visits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not that he was afraid of his wife!