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 said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
anxious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
asking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.
berthnounUS /bɜrθ/
a job or position on a ship
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
comfort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.
company
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.
drop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
edge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It turned out just so.
likely
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From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
lonesome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
questions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.
scare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
shell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
shet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
slept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.
somebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/
a person, without saying who
From this reading He said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.
suspicious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
sweat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
t'other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
talks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.
Tom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
troubles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said he had been so lonesome, and it was such a comfort to him to have company, and somebody to talk to in his troubles.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It turned out just so.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
upper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
warn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It warn’t no trouble to see that he _wanted_ to talk about it, but always along at first he would scare away from it when he got on the very edge of it, and go to talking about something else.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading From that time out, we was with him ’most all the time, and one or t’other of us slept in his upper berth.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading We was in a sweat to find out what his secret was, but Tom said the best way was not to seem anxious, then likely he would drop into it himself in one of his talks, but if we got to asking questions he would get suspicious and shet up his shell.
