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 Two days later a gig from Crossmichael deposited Frank Innes at the doors of Hermiston.
acute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once in a way, during the past winter, Archie, in some acute phase of boredom, had written him a letter.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It had contained something in the nature of an invitation or a reference to an invitation—precisely what, neither of them now remembered.
Archie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once in a way, during the past winter, Archie, in some acute phase of boredom, had written him a letter.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Two days later a gig from Crossmichael deposited Frank Innes at the doors of Hermiston.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
boredom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once in a way, during the past winter, Archie, in some acute phase of boredom, had written him a letter.
bury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
contained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had contained something in the nature of an invitation or a reference to an invitation—precisely what, neither of them now remembered.
Crossmichael
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From this reading Two days later a gig from Crossmichael deposited Frank Innes at the doors of Hermiston.
days
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From this reading Two days later a gig from Crossmichael deposited Frank Innes at the doors of Hermiston.
denied
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From this reading That would require a gift of prophecy which has been denied to man.
deposited
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From this reading Two days later a gig from Crossmichael deposited Frank Innes at the doors of Hermiston.
directness
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From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two days later a gig from Crossmichael deposited Frank Innes at the doors of Hermiston.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Once in a way, during the past winter, Archie, in some acute phase of boredom, had written him a letter.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
Frank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two days later a gig from Crossmichael deposited Frank Innes at the doors of Hermiston.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Two days later a gig from Crossmichael deposited Frank Innes at the doors of Hermiston.
further
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
gift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That would require a gift of prophecy which has been denied to man.
gig
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From this reading Two days later a gig from Crossmichael deposited Frank Innes at the doors of Hermiston.
guided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once in a way, during the past winter, Archie, in some acute phase of boredom, had written him a letter.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That would require a gift of prophecy which has been denied to man.
heads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
Hermiston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two days later a gig from Crossmichael deposited Frank Innes at the doors of Hermiston.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Once in a way, during the past winter, Archie, in some acute phase of boredom, had written him a letter.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Once in a way, during the past winter, Archie, in some acute phase of boredom, had written him a letter.
Innes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two days later a gig from Crossmichael deposited Frank Innes at the doors of Hermiston.
invitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had contained something in the nature of an invitation or a reference to an invitation—precisely what, neither of them now remembered.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had contained something in the nature of an invitation or a reference to an invitation—precisely what, neither of them now remembered.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two days later a gig from Crossmichael deposited Frank Innes at the doors of Hermiston.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once in a way, during the past winter, Archie, in some acute phase of boredom, had written him a letter.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That would require a gift of prophecy which has been denied to man.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
moors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had contained something in the nature of an invitation or a reference to an invitation—precisely what, neither of them now remembered.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading It had contained something in the nature of an invitation or a reference to an invitation—precisely what, neither of them now remembered.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had contained something in the nature of an invitation or a reference to an invitation—precisely what, neither of them now remembered.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Two days later a gig from Crossmichael deposited Frank Innes at the doors of Hermiston.
Once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once in a way, during the past winter, Archie, in some acute phase of boredom, had written him a letter.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It had contained something in the nature of an invitation or a reference to an invitation—precisely what, neither of them now remembered.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once in a way, during the past winter, Archie, in some acute phase of boredom, had written him a letter.
phase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once in a way, during the past winter, Archie, in some acute phase of boredom, had written him a letter.
political
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
precisely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had contained something in the nature of an invitation or a reference to an invitation—precisely what, neither of them now remembered.
prophecynounUS /ˈprɒf.ə.si/
A prediction of what will happen in the future, often divinely or magically inspired.
From this reading That would require a gift of prophecy which has been denied to man.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
reference
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had contained something in the nature of an invitation or a reference to an invitation—precisely what, neither of them now remembered.
remembered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had contained something in the nature of an invitation or a reference to an invitation—precisely what, neither of them now remembered.
require
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That would require a gift of prophecy which has been denied to man.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once in a way, during the past winter, Archie, in some acute phase of boredom, had written him a letter.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It had contained something in the nature of an invitation or a reference to an invitation—precisely what, neither of them now remembered.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That would require a gift of prophecy which has been denied to man.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Two days later a gig from Crossmichael deposited Frank Innes at the doors of Hermiston.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It had contained something in the nature of an invitation or a reference to an invitation—precisely what, neither of them now remembered.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It had contained something in the nature of an invitation or a reference to an invitation—precisely what, neither of them now remembered.
Two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two days later a gig from Crossmichael deposited Frank Innes at the doors of Hermiston.
unerring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once in a way, during the past winter, Archie, in some acute phase of boredom, had written him a letter.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It had contained something in the nature of an invitation or a reference to an invitation—precisely what, neither of them now remembered.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That would require a gift of prophecy which has been denied to man.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once in a way, during the past winter, Archie, in some acute phase of boredom, had written him a letter.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading When Innes had received it, there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury himself in the moors with Archie; but not even the most acute political heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading That would require a gift of prophecy which has been denied to man.
written
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once in a way, during the past winter, Archie, in some acute phase of boredom, had written him a letter.
