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 MISHAP TO THE BLUE SPECTACLES.
All
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From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Carlyle and Barbara were seated at breakfast, when, somewhat to their surprise, Mr. Dill was shown in.
arrive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mr. Carlyle and Barbara were seated at breakfast, when, somewhat to their surprise, Mr. Dill was shown in.
Barbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Carlyle and Barbara were seated at breakfast, when, somewhat to their surprise, Mr. Dill was shown in.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
Bethel
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From this reading Following close upon his heels came Justice Hare; and close upon his heels came Squire Pinner; while bringing up the rear was Colonel Bethel.
BLUE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MISHAP TO THE BLUE SPECTACLES.
breakfast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Carlyle and Barbara were seated at breakfast, when, somewhat to their surprise, Mr. Dill was shown in.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
bringing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following close upon his heels came Justice Hare; and close upon his heels came Squire Pinner; while bringing up the rear was Colonel Bethel.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Quite impossible was it for Mr. Carlyle, at first, to understand the news they brought.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following close upon his heels came Justice Hare; and close upon his heels came Squire Pinner; while bringing up the rear was Colonel Bethel.
Carlyle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Carlyle and Barbara were seated at breakfast, when, somewhat to their surprise, Mr. Dill was shown in.
close
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following close upon his heels came Justice Hare; and close upon his heels came Squire Pinner; while bringing up the rear was Colonel Bethel.
Colonel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following close upon his heels came Justice Hare; and close upon his heels came Squire Pinner; while bringing up the rear was Colonel Bethel.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
Dill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Carlyle and Barbara were seated at breakfast, when, somewhat to their surprise, Mr. Dill was shown in.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Quite impossible was it for Mr. Carlyle, at first, to understand the news they brought.
Following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following close upon his heels came Justice Hare; and close upon his heels came Squire Pinner; while bringing up the rear was Colonel Bethel.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Quite impossible was it for Mr. Carlyle, at first, to understand the news they brought.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
Hare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following close upon his heels came Justice Hare; and close upon his heels came Squire Pinner; while bringing up the rear was Colonel Bethel.
heels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following close upon his heels came Justice Hare; and close upon his heels came Squire Pinner; while bringing up the rear was Colonel Bethel.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Following close upon his heels came Justice Hare; and close upon his heels came Squire Pinner; while bringing up the rear was Colonel Bethel.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite impossible was it for Mr. Carlyle, at first, to understand the news they brought.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Carlyle and Barbara were seated at breakfast, when, somewhat to their surprise, Mr. Dill was shown in.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
Justice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following close upon his heels came Justice Hare; and close upon his heels came Squire Pinner; while bringing up the rear was Colonel Bethel.
MISHAP
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MISHAP TO THE BLUE SPECTACLES.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Carlyle and Barbara were seated at breakfast, when, somewhat to their surprise, Mr. Dill was shown in.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite impossible was it for Mr. Carlyle, at first, to understand the news they brought.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
Pinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following close upon his heels came Justice Hare; and close upon his heels came Squire Pinner; while bringing up the rear was Colonel Bethel.
QuitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Quite impossible was it for Mr. Carlyle, at first, to understand the news they brought.
race
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
rear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following close upon his heels came Justice Hare; and close upon his heels came Squire Pinner; while bringing up the rear was Colonel Bethel.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Carlyle and Barbara were seated at breakfast, when, somewhat to their surprise, Mr. Dill was shown in.
separately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
shown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Carlyle and Barbara were seated at breakfast, when, somewhat to their surprise, Mr. Dill was shown in.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Carlyle and Barbara were seated at breakfast, when, somewhat to their surprise, Mr. Dill was shown in.
soonest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
SPECTACLES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MISHAP TO THE BLUE SPECTACLES.
Squire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following close upon his heels came Justice Hare; and close upon his heels came Squire Pinner; while bringing up the rear was Colonel Bethel.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Carlyle and Barbara were seated at breakfast, when, somewhat to their surprise, Mr. Dill was shown in.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A MISHAP TO THE BLUE SPECTACLES.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Carlyle and Barbara were seated at breakfast, when, somewhat to their surprise, Mr. Dill was shown in.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Quite impossible was it for Mr. Carlyle, at first, to understand the news they brought.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A MISHAP TO THE BLUE SPECTACLES.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Quite impossible was it for Mr. Carlyle, at first, to understand the news they brought.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following close upon his heels came Justice Hare; and close upon his heels came Squire Pinner; while bringing up the rear was Colonel Bethel.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Following close upon his heels came Justice Hare; and close upon his heels came Squire Pinner; while bringing up the rear was Colonel Bethel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Carlyle and Barbara were seated at breakfast, when, somewhat to their surprise, Mr. Dill was shown in.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mr. Carlyle and Barbara were seated at breakfast, when, somewhat to their surprise, Mr. Dill was shown in.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Mr. Carlyle and Barbara were seated at breakfast, when, somewhat to their surprise, Mr. Dill was shown in.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading All the four had come up separately, not together, and all four were out of breath, as if it had been a race which should arrive soonest.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Following close upon his heels came Justice Hare; and close upon his heels came Squire Pinner; while bringing up the rear was Colonel Bethel.
