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 The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/
any person at all
From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.
ask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.
assure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Sir Henry had been talking some time.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
Committee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
communications
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.
deal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
food
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'
food-supply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'
glance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'
Government
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Sir Henry had been talking some time.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
Henry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Henry had been talking some time.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
interruptednounUS /ˈinterrupted/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
leaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'
mostly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'
necessary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'
papers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
perfunctory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
pockets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
presented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
quickly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
reports
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
shouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Henry had been talking some time.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Henry had been talking some time.
spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'
squeak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'
Squire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Henry had been talking some time.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.
thrusting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sir Henry had been talking some time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
vitally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We shouldn't ask you or anybody else to do these things if it wasn't vitally necessary for the food-supply of the country.
we're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But we're going to have a narrow squeak for it next spring and summer, and we _must_ get more food out of the land.'
we've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
Well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Squire had not interrupted him much, but the papers which Sir Henry had presented to him from time to time--Government communications, Committee reports, and the like--were mostly lying on the floor, where, after a perfunctory glance at them, he had very quickly dropped them.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'Well, that's our case,' said Sir Henry at last, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning back in his chair, 'and I assure you we've taken a great deal of trouble about it.
