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 They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
acquaintances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
apart
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From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
bar-room
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From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
belonged
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From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
blamednounUS /blamed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
Briggsville
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From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
catch
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From this reading It did not take them long to catch the drift of matters.
chatter
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From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
class
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From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did not take them long to catch the drift of matters.
dilapidated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
dress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
drift
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From this reading It did not take them long to catch the drift of matters.
drink
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From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
else
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From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
faces
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From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
failing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
few
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From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
frowzy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
furtive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
glances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
Gordon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
group
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
heads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
hero
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
inside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
interested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It did not take them long to catch the drift of matters.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
listened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It did not take them long to catch the drift of matters.
looks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
matters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It did not take them long to catch the drift of matters.
memorable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
mutteredverbUS /ˈmʌtərd/
spoke in a low voice that was difficult to hear
From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
occurrences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
pestiferous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
porch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
remarks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
scowling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
Seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
strangers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
suggestive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
surly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It did not take them long to catch the drift of matters.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
talked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
Tom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
tones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They talked together in low tones, with furtive glances at the young hero, and kept their places, with a few muttered remarks that no one else could catch, while Tom was inside.
tramps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
vagrants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Gordon could not be blamed for failing to note several suggestive occurrences during this memorable visit to Briggsville.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading They sat apart, after taking a drink in the bar-room, and with scowling but interested looks listened to the chatter going on around them.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated on the porch of the hotel, while he was talking to the group of young persons and acquaintances, were two strangers, whose dilapidated dress, frowzy heads, and surly faces, showed they belonged to that pestiferous class of vagrants known as tramps.
