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 He appeared to be meditating, with the placid gravity that characterized him, over the results of a well-spent and profitable life.
abandon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Francis might, with propriety, abandon business for the day, and betake himself to his residence in Great George Street.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He appeared to be meditating, with the placid gravity that characterized him, over the results of a well-spent and profitable life.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
bank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He appeared to be meditating, with the placid gravity that characterized him, over the results of a well-spent and profitable life.
Bendibow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
betake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Francis might, with propriety, abandon business for the day, and betake himself to his residence in Great George Street.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Francis might, with propriety, abandon business for the day, and betake himself to his residence in Great George Street.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
characterized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He appeared to be meditating, with the placid gravity that characterized him, over the results of a well-spent and profitable life.
consulted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At length, with a gentle sigh, he uncrossed his legs, took his watch from his fob, and consulted its enameled face.
crossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Francis might, with propriety, abandon business for the day, and betake himself to his residence in Great George Street.
elegant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
embroidered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
enameled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At length, with a gentle sigh, he uncrossed his legs, took his watch from his fob, and consulted its enameled face.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At length, with a gentle sigh, he uncrossed his legs, took his watch from his fob, and consulted its enameled face.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It wanted five minutes to three.
fob
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At length, with a gentle sigh, he uncrossed his legs, took his watch from his fob, and consulted its enameled face.
folded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Sir Francis might, with propriety, abandon business for the day, and betake himself to his residence in Great George Street.
Francis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At length, with a gentle sigh, he uncrossed his legs, took his watch from his fob, and consulted its enameled face.
gentle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At length, with a gentle sigh, he uncrossed his legs, took his watch from his fob, and consulted its enameled face.
George
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Francis might, with propriety, abandon business for the day, and betake himself to his residence in Great George Street.
gravity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He appeared to be meditating, with the placid gravity that characterized him, over the results of a well-spent and profitable life.
GreatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sir Francis might, with propriety, abandon business for the day, and betake himself to his residence in Great George Street.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He appeared to be meditating, with the placid gravity that characterized him, over the results of a well-spent and profitable life.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He appeared to be meditating, with the placid gravity that characterized him, over the results of a well-spent and profitable life.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Sir Francis might, with propriety, abandon business for the day, and betake himself to his residence in Great George Street.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It wanted five minutes to three.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading At length, with a gentle sigh, he uncrossed his legs, took his watch from his fob, and consulted its enameled face.
leg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
legs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At length, with a gentle sigh, he uncrossed his legs, took his watch from his fob, and consulted its enameled face.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading At length, with a gentle sigh, he uncrossed his legs, took his watch from his fob, and consulted its enameled face.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He appeared to be meditating, with the placid gravity that characterized him, over the results of a well-spent and profitable life.
Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
meditating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He appeared to be meditating, with the placid gravity that characterized him, over the results of a well-spent and profitable life.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Sir Francis might, with propriety, abandon business for the day, and betake himself to his residence in Great George Street.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It wanted five minutes to three.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
placid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He appeared to be meditating, with the placid gravity that characterized him, over the results of a well-spent and profitable life.
private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
profitable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He appeared to be meditating, with the placid gravity that characterized him, over the results of a well-spent and profitable life.
propriety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Francis might, with propriety, abandon business for the day, and betake himself to his residence in Great George Street.
residence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Francis might, with propriety, abandon business for the day, and betake himself to his residence in Great George Street.
results
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He appeared to be meditating, with the placid gravity that characterized him, over the results of a well-spent and profitable life.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
sigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At length, with a gentle sigh, he uncrossed his legs, took his watch from his fob, and consulted its enameled face.
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
Street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Francis might, with propriety, abandon business for the day, and betake himself to his residence in Great George Street.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He appeared to be meditating, with the placid gravity that characterized him, over the results of a well-spent and profitable life.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It wanted five minutes to three.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He appeared to be meditating, with the placid gravity that characterized him, over the results of a well-spent and profitable life.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At length, with a gentle sigh, he uncrossed his legs, took his watch from his fob, and consulted its enameled face.
uncrossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At length, with a gentle sigh, he uncrossed his legs, took his watch from his fob, and consulted its enameled face.
waistcoat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It wanted five minutes to three.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
watch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At length, with a gentle sigh, he uncrossed his legs, took his watch from his fob, and consulted its enameled face.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
well-spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He appeared to be meditating, with the placid gravity that characterized him, over the results of a well-spent and profitable life.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The first week of May had passed by, and Sir Francis Bendibow was sitting in his private room at the bank, with one elegant leg crossed over the other, and his hands folded over his embroidered waistcoat.
