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 Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
bald-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
BUNDLEnounUS /ˈbʌndəl/
a group of things tied or wrapped together
From this reading THE MAN WITH THE BUNDLE.
bushy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
coachman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
daring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But that did not matter.
Duncan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
engaged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
entrust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
establishment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
exception
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
gardener
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
harness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
harness-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
important
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
MAN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MAN WITH THE BUNDLE.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But that did not matter.
Merrick's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
Muir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
oiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
performed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
polishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
serious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
servant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
side-whiskers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
stable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
subordinate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
task
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But that did not matter.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MAN WITH THE BUNDLE.
Thursday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE MAN WITH THE BUNDLE.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
