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 The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
appropriate
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From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
aught
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From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
bank
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From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
bulk
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From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But what was the explanation of these inquiries by the mysterious Purvis?
called
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From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
certain
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From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
chagrin
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From this reading FORESTALLED MERE words fail to express my chagrin.
clue
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From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
drink-sodden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
explanation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But what was the explanation of these inquiries by the mysterious Purvis?
expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/
to show or communicate a feeling or idea
From this reading FORESTALLED MERE words fail to express my chagrin.
fail
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From this reading FORESTALLED MERE words fail to express my chagrin.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
FORESTALLED
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From this reading FORESTALLED MERE words fail to express my chagrin.
give
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From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
golden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
guineas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
inquiries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But what was the explanation of these inquiries by the mysterious Purvis?
Job
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
locked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
MERE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FORESTALLED MERE words fail to express my chagrin.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading FORESTALLED MERE words fail to express my chagrin.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
difficult to explain or understand
From this reading But what was the explanation of these inquiries by the mysterious Purvis?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
parchmentnounUS /ˈpɑːrtʃ.mənt/
A stiff, flat, thin material made from the prepared skin of an animal, used for writing.
From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
pointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
purchased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
Purvis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
reflect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
remarks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
safely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
Seal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
search
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
spot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
Staffurth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
sufficiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But what was the explanation of these inquiries by the mysterious Purvis?
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading FORESTALLED MERE words fail to express my chagrin.
treasure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
undiscovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
unknown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
utterednounUS /ˈuttered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had more than a thousand golden guineas locked up safely in the bank in London, but both Seal, Mr. Staffurth, and myself felt certain that the great bulk of the treasure still remained undiscovered.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But what was the explanation of these inquiries by the mysterious Purvis?
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Job Seal could perhaps have uttered remarks sufficiently pointed and appropriate, but for myself I could only reflect that this unknown man who called himself Mr. Purvis, of London, had forestalled me.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FORESTALLED MERE words fail to express my chagrin.
yokel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parchment he had purchased of this drink-sodden old yokel might, for aught I knew, give a clue to the spot of which I was in search.
