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 crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
adventure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
ALF
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From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
all
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From this reading The only person who attempted to describe it at all was the company sergeant-major; he did it rather well.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The only person who attempted to describe it at all was the company sergeant-major; he did it rather well.
attempted
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From this reading The only person who attempted to describe it at all was the company sergeant-major; he did it rather well.
battalion
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From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
BUTTONS
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From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
CLEANS
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From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
company
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From this reading The only person who attempted to describe it at all was the company sergeant-major; he did it rather well.
condition
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From this reading Higgins did not spend the remainder of his tour of duty in the condition of indecorous discomfort in which he was hauled from the Glue-Pot.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
crawling
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From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
derelict
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
describe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only person who attempted to describe it at all was the company sergeant-major; he did it rather well.
described
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From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The only person who attempted to describe it at all was the company sergeant-major; he did it rather well.
difficulty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
discomfort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higgins did not spend the remainder of his tour of duty in the condition of indecorous discomfort in which he was hauled from the Glue-Pot.
dressing-station
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From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
dried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
dug-out
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From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading Higgins did not spend the remainder of his tour of duty in the condition of indecorous discomfort in which he was hauled from the Glue-Pot.
errand
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From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
felt-lined
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From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
former
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Higgins did not spend the remainder of his tour of duty in the condition of indecorous discomfort in which he was hauled from the Glue-Pot.
further
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
Glue-Pot
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From this reading Higgins did not spend the remainder of his tour of duty in the condition of indecorous discomfort in which he was hauled from the Glue-Pot.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
hauled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higgins did not spend the remainder of his tour of duty in the condition of indecorous discomfort in which he was hauled from the Glue-Pot.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The only person who attempted to describe it at all was the company sergeant-major; he did it rather well.
Higgins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Higgins did not spend the remainder of his tour of duty in the condition of indecorous discomfort in which he was hauled from the Glue-Pot.
indecorous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higgins did not spend the remainder of his tour of duty in the condition of indecorous discomfort in which he was hauled from the Glue-Pot.
inside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The only person who attempted to describe it at all was the company sergeant-major; he did it rather well.
jacket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
jerkin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
leather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
luck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only person who attempted to describe it at all was the company sergeant-major; he did it rather well.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only person who attempted to describe it at all was the company sergeant-major; he did it rather well.
Private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only person who attempted to describe it at all was the company sergeant-major; he did it rather well.
remainder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higgins did not spend the remainder of his tour of duty in the condition of indecorous discomfort in which he was hauled from the Glue-Pot.
repaired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
requirednounUS /required/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
rescued
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
roughly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
sergeant-major
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only person who attempted to describe it at all was the company sergeant-major; he did it rather well.
shell-hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
smart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
spend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higgins did not spend the remainder of his tour of duty in the condition of indecorous discomfort in which he was hauled from the Glue-Pot.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
thigh-boots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The only person who attempted to describe it at all was the company sergeant-major; he did it rather well.
torn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
tour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higgins did not spend the remainder of his tour of duty in the condition of indecorous discomfort in which he was hauled from the Glue-Pot.
trousers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The only person who attempted to describe it at all was the company sergeant-major; he did it rather well.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only person who attempted to describe it at all was the company sergeant-major; he did it rather well.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS When the battalion moved out of the line the appearance of Private Higgins could not be described as smart.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Higgins did not spend the remainder of his tour of duty in the condition of indecorous discomfort in which he was hauled from the Glue-Pot.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The only person who attempted to describe it at all was the company sergeant-major; he did it rather well.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading On crawling out of his shell-hole, he first rescued his trousers with some difficulty from inside his derelict thigh-boots, and then made his way to the dressing-station--a large dug-out--where he was dried and his torn jacket was roughly repaired.
wore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For the rest of his time he wore the felt-lined leather jerkin which he had forgotten to take with him on his former adventure; but as luck would have it he was not required on any further errand.
