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 RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It is usually possible to tell, when you have rung a door-bell, just what happens after you have been announced.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He walked to Rodney Merriam’s house the next afternoon with an exaggeration of his usual alert dignity.
alert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He walked to Rodney Merriam’s house the next afternoon with an exaggeration of his usual alert dignity.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He walked to Rodney Merriam’s house the next afternoon with an exaggeration of his usual alert dignity.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
announced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is usually possible to tell, when you have rung a door-bell, just what happens after you have been announced.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Japanese boy said that Mr. Merriam was at home, and he took Pollock’s card and asked him to have a seat in the library.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It is usually possible to tell, when you have rung a door-bell, just what happens after you have been announced.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Japanese boy said that Mr. Merriam was at home, and he took Pollock’s card and asked him to have a seat in the library.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
card
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Japanese boy said that Mr. Merriam was at home, and he took Pollock’s card and asked him to have a seat in the library.
deal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
decision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
dignity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He walked to Rodney Merriam’s house the next afternoon with an exaggeration of his usual alert dignity.
divers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
door-bell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is usually possible to tell, when you have rung a door-bell, just what happens after you have been announced.
effect
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From this reading Pollock stood, however, in the middle of the room, with a general effect of parade rest, holding his hat and stick.
exaggeration
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From this reading He walked to Rodney Merriam’s house the next afternoon with an exaggeration of his usual alert dignity.
EXPLAINS
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From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
fellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
Frank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
general
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pollock stood, however, in the middle of the room, with a general effect of parade rest, holding his hat and stick.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
happens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is usually possible to tell, when you have rung a door-bell, just what happens after you have been announced.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pollock stood, however, in the middle of the room, with a general effect of parade rest, holding his hat and stick.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The Japanese boy said that Mr. Merriam was at home, and he took Pollock’s card and asked him to have a seat in the library.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He walked to Rodney Merriam’s house the next afternoon with an exaggeration of his usual alert dignity.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Japanese boy said that Mr. Merriam was at home, and he took Pollock’s card and asked him to have a seat in the library.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
holding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pollock stood, however, in the middle of the room, with a general effect of parade rest, holding his hat and stick.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Japanese boy said that Mr. Merriam was at home, and he took Pollock’s card and asked him to have a seat in the library.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He walked to Rodney Merriam’s house the next afternoon with an exaggeration of his usual alert dignity.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Pollock stood, however, in the middle of the room, with a general effect of parade rest, holding his hat and stick.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is usually possible to tell, when you have rung a door-bell, just what happens after you have been announced.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is usually possible to tell, when you have rung a door-bell, just what happens after you have been announced.
Japanese
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Japanese boy said that Mr. Merriam was at home, and he took Pollock’s card and asked him to have a seat in the library.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is usually possible to tell, when you have rung a door-bell, just what happens after you have been announced.
library
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Japanese boy said that Mr. Merriam was at home, and he took Pollock’s card and asked him to have a seat in the library.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
make-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
MERRIAM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
Merriam's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He walked to Rodney Merriam’s house the next afternoon with an exaggeration of his usual alert dignity.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pollock stood, however, in the middle of the room, with a general effect of parade rest, holding his hat and stick.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Japanese boy said that Mr. Merriam was at home, and he took Pollock’s card and asked him to have a seat in the library.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He walked to Rodney Merriam’s house the next afternoon with an exaggeration of his usual alert dignity.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
parade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pollock stood, however, in the middle of the room, with a general effect of parade rest, holding his hat and stick.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
Pollock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
Pollock's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Japanese boy said that Mr. Merriam was at home, and he took Pollock’s card and asked him to have a seat in the library.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is usually possible to tell, when you have rung a door-bell, just what happens after you have been announced.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Pollock stood, however, in the middle of the room, with a general effect of parade rest, holding his hat and stick.
RODNEY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pollock stood, however, in the middle of the room, with a general effect of parade rest, holding his hat and stick.
rung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is usually possible to tell, when you have rung a door-bell, just what happens after you have been announced.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
seat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Japanese boy said that Mr. Merriam was at home, and he took Pollock’s card and asked him to have a seat in the library.
stick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pollock stood, however, in the middle of the room, with a general effect of parade rest, holding his hat and stick.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Pollock stood, however, in the middle of the room, with a general effect of parade rest, holding his hat and stick.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is usually possible to tell, when you have rung a door-bell, just what happens after you have been announced.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Japanese boy said that Mr. Merriam was at home, and he took Pollock’s card and asked him to have a seat in the library.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He walked to Rodney Merriam’s house the next afternoon with an exaggeration of his usual alert dignity.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He walked to Rodney Merriam’s house the next afternoon with an exaggeration of his usual alert dignity.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Japanese boy said that Mr. Merriam was at home, and he took Pollock’s card and asked him to have a seat in the library.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He walked to Rodney Merriam’s house the next afternoon with an exaggeration of his usual alert dignity.
usually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is usually possible to tell, when you have rung a door-bell, just what happens after you have been announced.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He walked to Rodney Merriam’s house the next afternoon with an exaggeration of his usual alert dignity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading RODNEY MERRIAM EXPLAINS Captain Frank Pollock was, as many people had said at different times and in divers places, a little fellow; but there was a good deal of decision in his make-up.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It is usually possible to tell, when you have rung a door-bell, just what happens after you have been announced.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It is usually possible to tell, when you have rung a door-bell, just what happens after you have been announced.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He walked to Rodney Merriam’s house the next afternoon with an exaggeration of his usual alert dignity.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading It is usually possible to tell, when you have rung a door-bell, just what happens after you have been announced.
