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 For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
acquaintance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
asking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The fact that the payroll had to be held one night at the point where it was transferred to the branch road into the mine interested me.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The fact that the payroll had to be held one night at the point where it was transferred to the branch road into the mine interested me.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
branch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring came.
Canada
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
Canadian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
cash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
casual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
chance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
coal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
decide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/
to show or communicate a feeling or idea
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fact that the payroll had to be held one night at the point where it was transferred to the branch road into the mine interested me.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
forty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fact that the payroll had to be held one night at the point where it was transferred to the branch road into the mine interested me.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
interested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fact that the payroll had to be held one night at the point where it was transferred to the branch road into the mine interested me.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The fact that the payroll had to be held one night at the point where it was transferred to the branch road into the mine interested me.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew the place, and that there was little or no police protection.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I knew the place, and that there was little or no police protection.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
Manitoba
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
middle-west
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
miner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
month
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
moving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fact that the payroll had to be held one night at the point where it was transferred to the branch road into the mine interested me.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading I knew the place, and that there was little or no police protection.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Pacific
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
pay-off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
payroll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fact that the payroll had to be held one night at the point where it was transferred to the branch road into the mine interested me.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew the place, and that there was little or no police protection.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading The fact that the payroll had to be held one night at the point where it was transferred to the branch road into the mine interested me.
police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew the place, and that there was little or no police protection.
protection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew the place, and that there was little or no police protection.
provinces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
questions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
shipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
Spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring came.
talks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew the place, and that there was little or no police protection.
thirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
transferred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fact that the payroll had to be held one night at the point where it was transferred to the branch road into the mine interested me.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
Winnipeg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of our talks I learned by asking a few casual questions that the mine worked between thirty and forty men; that it was on a short branch road off the Canadian Pacific; that the pay-off was in cash, on or about the first of every month, and that the money was shipped by express from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For me that meant moving, and while I was trying to decide where to go I made by chance the acquaintance of a coal miner who had worked in a small mine in one of the middle-west provinces of Canada.
