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 If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
appear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
arrest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
chose
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From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
crime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
direction
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From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
excitedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/
very enthusiastic or eager
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
figure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
finger-prints
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
flower-beds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
gate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
Hovering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
hunched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
interruption
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
Lord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
Miriam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
Miriam's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
Mollie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
plans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
pockets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
Potter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
ragged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
safe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
shoulders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
shuffling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
signs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
summoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
waited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
