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 "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
autumn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
birds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
blow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately the recollection of the mad woman struck me like a blow in the chest.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
branches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
chest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately the recollection of the mad woman struck me like a blow in the chest.
close
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
disastrous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
ditch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
dragged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading "And suddenly I understood, I guessed everything.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
forest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
gout
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
guessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And suddenly I understood, I guessed everything.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
Immediately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately the recollection of the mad woman struck me like a blow in the chest.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
killed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
knocked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately the recollection of the mad woman struck me like a blow in the chest.
long-billed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
mad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately the recollection of the mad woman struck me like a blow in the chest.
maniac
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
Many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
obliged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
pick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
plentiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
recollection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately the recollection of the mad woman struck me like a blow in the chest.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Immediately the recollection of the mad woman struck me like a blow in the chest.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "And suddenly I understood, I guessed everything.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
understood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And suddenly I understood, I guessed everything.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
Well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I had already killed four or five of the long-billed birds, when I knocked over one which fell into a ditch full of branches, and I was obliged to get into it, in order to pick it up, and I found that it had fallen close to a dead, human body.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately the recollection of the mad woman struck me like a blow in the chest.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
woodcock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, in the following autumn the woodcock were very plentiful, and as my gout had left me for a time, I dragged myself as far as the forest.
wretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Many other people had perhaps died in the wood during that disastrous year, but though I do not know why, I was sure, sure, I tell you, that I should see the head of that wretched maniac.
