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 _Printed in U. S. A._ I hate the sight of those terra-cotta envelopes that telegrams come in.
absence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
action
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
adventure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
announced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
atmosphere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
awaiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is no reply,” I said to Bates, who stood awaiting instructions.
Bates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
bear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
chapter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
circumstances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Printed in U. S. A._ I hate the sight of those terra-cotta envelopes that telegrams come in.
curious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
detailsnounUS /ˈdetails/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
detestable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
emergency
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
envelopes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Printed in U. S. A._ I hate the sight of those terra-cotta envelopes that telegrams come in.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
form
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
hate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Printed in U. S. A._ I hate the sight of those terra-cotta envelopes that telegrams come in.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading _Printed in U. S. A._ I hate the sight of those terra-cotta envelopes that telegrams come in.
ill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
imaginenounUS /ˈimagine/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Printed in U. S. A._ I hate the sight of those terra-cotta envelopes that telegrams come in.
incredible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
instructions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is no reply,” I said to Bates, who stood awaiting instructions.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
mean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading “There is no reply,” I said to Bates, who stood awaiting instructions.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Printed in U. S. A._ I hate the sight of those terra-cotta envelopes that telegrams come in.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
opening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
otherwise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
PrintednounUS /printed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Printed in U. S. A._ I hate the sight of those terra-cotta envelopes that telegrams come in.
puce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
recall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
record
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
remote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
reply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is no reply,” I said to Bates, who stood awaiting instructions.
S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Printed in U. S. A._ I hate the sight of those terra-cotta envelopes that telegrams come in.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is no reply,” I said to Bates, who stood awaiting instructions.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Printed in U. S. A._ I hate the sight of those terra-cotta envelopes that telegrams come in.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
suggestions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
telegrams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Printed in U. S. A._ I hate the sight of those terra-cotta envelopes that telegrams come in.
terra-cotta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Printed in U. S. A._ I hate the sight of those terra-cotta envelopes that telegrams come in.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _Printed in U. S. A._ I hate the sight of those terra-cotta envelopes that telegrams come in.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Printed in U. S. A._ I hate the sight of those terra-cotta envelopes that telegrams come in.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is no reply,” I said to Bates, who stood awaiting instructions.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading _Printed in U. S. A._ I hate the sight of those terra-cotta envelopes that telegrams come in.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
U
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Printed in U. S. A._ I hate the sight of those terra-cotta envelopes that telegrams come in.
ugly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Bates stood by while I read the ugly puce form which announced, had I known it, the opening of the curious chapter in my otherwise quiet life which I am now trying to recall and to record in its incredible details.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading “There is no reply,” I said to Bates, who stood awaiting instructions.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading They have often announced ill news to me, and even in the absence of ill news they bear with them an atmosphere of emergency, suggestions of sudden action, which is always detestable to me.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Incredible I mean from my then point of view, for a life and circumstances more remote from adventure than mine were then, it would be hard to imagine.
