Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
a-doin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What are you a-doin' in my house?"
abominable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I wondered whether she knew anything about the snake.
akimbo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading I wondered whether she knew anything about the snake.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "What are you a-doin' in my house?"
arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Getting out of it, Mrs. Boomsby," I replied, with the good-nature I had been nursing up-stairs for several minutes.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
Boomsby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
choice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
exclaimed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
FELLOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FELLOW IN THE LOCK-UP.
ferocity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Getting out of it, Mrs. Boomsby," I replied, with the good-nature I had been nursing up-stairs for several minutes.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
Getting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Getting out of it, Mrs. Boomsby," I replied, with the good-nature I had been nursing up-stairs for several minutes.
good-nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Getting out of it, Mrs. Boomsby," I replied, with the good-nature I had been nursing up-stairs for several minutes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Getting out of it, Mrs. Boomsby," I replied, with the good-nature I had been nursing up-stairs for several minutes.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What are you a-doin' in my house?"
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE FELLOW IN THE LOCK-UP.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Getting out of it, Mrs. Boomsby," I replied, with the good-nature I had been nursing up-stairs for several minutes.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wondered whether she knew anything about the snake.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
LOCK-UP
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FELLOW IN THE LOCK-UP.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Getting out of it, Mrs. Boomsby," I replied, with the good-nature I had been nursing up-stairs for several minutes.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "What are you a-doin' in my house?"
nursing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Getting out of it, Mrs. Boomsby," I replied, with the good-nature I had been nursing up-stairs for several minutes.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Getting out of it, Mrs. Boomsby," I replied, with the good-nature I had been nursing up-stairs for several minutes.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Getting out of it, Mrs. Boomsby," I replied, with the good-nature I had been nursing up-stairs for several minutes.
placing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
repliednounUS /replied/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Getting out of it, Mrs. Boomsby," I replied, with the good-nature I had been nursing up-stairs for several minutes.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Getting out of it, Mrs. Boomsby," I replied, with the good-nature I had been nursing up-stairs for several minutes.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I wondered whether she knew anything about the snake.
snake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FELLOW IN THE LOCK-UP.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
up-stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Getting out of it, Mrs. Boomsby," I replied, with the good-nature I had been nursing up-stairs for several minutes.
utmost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What are you a-doin' in my house?"
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading I wondered whether she knew anything about the snake.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I wondered whether she knew anything about the snake.
wretch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You abominable wretch!" exclaimed Mrs. Boomsby, placing her arms akimbo, and looking at me with the utmost ferocity, so that between her and the snake I found there was little choice.