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 "I know!" cried Barkins; "he needn't make such a jolly mystery of it.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
athletic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It's Chinese athletic sports.
band
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Look, there's the band coming."
Barkins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I know!" cried Barkins; "he needn't make such a jolly mystery of it.
barriers
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From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
Chinese
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It's Chinese athletic sports.
clumsyadjectiveUS /ˈklʌmzi/
awkward in movement or handling things
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Look, there's the band coming."
criednounUS /cried/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I know!" cried Barkins; "he needn't make such a jolly mystery of it.
crowd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
divers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
drums
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
exactly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
filling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
formed
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From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
gongs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I know!" cried Barkins; "he needn't make such a jolly mystery of it.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I know!" cried Barkins; "he needn't make such a jolly mystery of it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
instruments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I know!" cried Barkins; "he needn't make such a jolly mystery of it.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It's Chinese athletic sports.
jolly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I know!" cried Barkins; "he needn't make such a jolly mystery of it.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I know!" cried Barkins; "he needn't make such a jolly mystery of it.
LooknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Look, there's the band coming."
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I know!" cried Barkins; "he needn't make such a jolly mystery of it.
marched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
marching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
military-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
mystery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I know!" cried Barkins; "he needn't make such a jolly mystery of it.
needn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I know!" cried Barkins; "he needn't make such a jolly mystery of it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I know!" cried Barkins; "he needn't make such a jolly mystery of it.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
opposite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
pointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
reserved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
shields
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
soldiers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
spears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
sports
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It's Chinese athletic sports.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "I know!" cried Barkins; "he needn't make such a jolly mystery of it.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Look, there's the band coming."
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
there's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Look, there's the band coming."
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
well-dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then a body of soldiers, with clumsy spears and shields, marched in and formed up opposite the band, the place filling up till only the best places, which were exactly opposite to us, remained empty.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He pointed to a military-looking party marching in with drums, gongs, and divers other instruments; and almost at the same time quite a crowd of well-dressed people entered, and began to take the different places reserved behind the barriers.
