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 A NEW PERPLEXITY.
agency
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By what agency had this disappearance come to pass?
alarm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
alarming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
animals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
banner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
boom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
cairn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
centre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading By what agency had this disappearance come to pass?
conceived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
conjectures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
considerable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
disappearance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
event
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
events
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
excitedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/
very enthusiastic or eager
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
lain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
NEW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A NEW PERPLEXITY.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
overturned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By what agency had this disappearance come to pass?
PERPLEXITY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A NEW PERPLEXITY.
pile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
rolled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
shirt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
speculation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
stones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
striped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading By what agency had this disappearance come to pass?
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading By what agency had this disappearance come to pass?
Tom's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
vague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
waved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
wedged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading By what agency had this disappearance come to pass?
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The disappearance of the boom and of Tom's old striped shirt, which had waved from it like a banner, excited considerable speculation and something of alarm.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If simply overturned by the wind, it must have lain where it fell; at all events, it could not have rolled far from the cairn, or pile of stones, in the centre of which we had wedged it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That it was the work of wild animals could not for a moment be conceived; so the event filled us with vague but very alarming conjectures.
