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 ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
absurd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
acted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading ‘Of course,’ my father said, ‘rats are part of the entail of an old house.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ‘As louder and louder, drawing near, The gnawing of their teeth he could hear.’
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ‘Of course,’ my father said, ‘rats are part of the entail of an old house.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ‘As louder and louder, drawing near, The gnawing of their teeth he could hear.’
baint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
Chapman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
conference
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading ‘As louder and louder, drawing near, The gnawing of their teeth he could hear.’
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Of course,’ my father said, ‘rats are part of the entail of an old house.
drawing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘As louder and louder, drawing near, The gnawing of their teeth he could hear.’
entail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Of course,’ my father said, ‘rats are part of the entail of an old house.
extensive
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From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Of course,’ my father said, ‘rats are part of the entail of an old house.
fellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
gaunt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
gins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
gnawing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘As louder and louder, drawing near, The gnawing of their teeth he could hear.’
Griff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘As louder and louder, drawing near, The gnawing of their teeth he could hear.’
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘As louder and louder, drawing near, The gnawing of their teeth he could hear.’
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Of course,’ my father said, ‘rats are part of the entail of an old house.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
keeper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
louder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘As louder and louder, drawing near, The gnawing of their teeth he could hear.’
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
mandarin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘As louder and louder, drawing near, The gnawing of their teeth he could hear.’
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ‘As louder and louder, drawing near, The gnawing of their teeth he could hear.’
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Of course,’ my father said, ‘rats are part of the entail of an old house.
preserves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
rats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
rid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
ridiculous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
shook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
SOUTHEY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOUTHEY.
teeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘As louder and louder, drawing near, The gnawing of their teeth he could hear.’
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘As louder and louder, drawing near, The gnawing of their teeth he could hear.’
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading ‘As louder and louder, drawing near, The gnawing of their teeth he could hear.’
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
trap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
varmint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
WHATpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading ‘WHAT a ridiculous old fellow that Chapman is,’ said Griff, coming in from a conference with the gaunt old man who acted as keeper to our not very extensive preserves.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘I told him to get some gins for the rats in my rooms, and he shook his absurd head like any mandarin, and said, “There baint no trap as will rid you of them kind of varmint, sir.”’
