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 On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
Alexander
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Curious,” he thought; “that looked like Alexander, but what would he be doing back there in the daycoaches?”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Curious,” he thought; “that looked like Alexander, but what would he be doing back there in the daycoaches?”
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Curious,” he thought; “that looked like Alexander, but what would he be doing back there in the daycoaches?”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
Boston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
bridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Curious,” he thought; “that looked like Alexander, but what would he be doing back there in the daycoaches?”
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
Canadian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
Curious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Curious,” he thought; “that looked like Alexander, but what would he be doing back there in the daycoaches?”
day-coaches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
daycoaches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Curious,” he thought; “that looked like Alexander, but what would he be doing back there in the daycoaches?”
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Curious,” he thought; “that looked like Alexander, but what would he be doing back there in the daycoaches?”
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
ExpressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/
to show or communicate a feeling or idea
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Curious,” he thought; “that looked like Alexander, but what would he be doing back there in the daycoaches?”
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was, indeed, Alexander.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was, indeed, Alexander.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
journeynounUS /ˈjourney/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
Junction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
lawyer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Curious,” he thought; “that looked like Alexander, but what would he be doing back there in the daycoaches?”
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Curious,” he thought; “that looked like Alexander, but what would he be doing back there in the daycoaches?”
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
Moorlock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
needed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
New
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
northward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
noticed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
pullednounUS /pulled/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
rear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
River
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
rumpled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
serious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
siding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
telegram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
telling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Curious,” he thought; “that looked like Alexander, but what would he be doing back there in the daycoaches?”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Curious,” he thought; “that looked like Alexander, but what would he be doing back there in the daycoaches?”
thick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Curious,” he thought; “that looked like Alexander, but what would he be doing back there in the daycoaches?”
train
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
Tuesday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
Vermont
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Curious,” he thought; “that looked like Alexander, but what would he be doing back there in the daycoaches?”
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
White
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading On Tuesday afternoon a Boston lawyer, who had been trying a case in Vermont, was standing on the siding at White River Junction when the Canadian Express pulled by on its northward journey.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading As the day-coaches at the rear end of the long train swept by him, the lawyer noticed at one of the windows a man’s head, with thick rumpled hair.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Curious,” he thought; “that looked like Alexander, but what would he be doing back there in the daycoaches?”
York
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That morning a telegram from Moorlock had reached him, telling him that there was serious trouble with the bridge and that he was needed there at once, so he had caught the first train out of New York.
