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 So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Faculty strongly disapproved of dogs, even very young and very small dogs, in the dormitories.
arrangements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
biscuit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
bowl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
brooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
brothers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
buckets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The pun is not mine, but Myron's.
CHAS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "CHAS" Only one thing troubled Joe, which was that he couldn't have Zephaniah with him.
china
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "CHAS" Only one thing troubled Joe, which was that he couldn't have Zephaniah with him.
decreed
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From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
disapproved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Faculty strongly disapproved of dogs, even very young and very small dogs, in the dormitories.
dogs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Faculty strongly disapproved of dogs, even very young and very small dogs, in the dormitories.
dormitories
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Faculty strongly disapproved of dogs, even very young and very small dogs, in the dormitories.
drinking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
duly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Faculty strongly disapproved of dogs, even very young and very small dogs, in the dormitories.
Faculty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Faculty strongly disapproved of dogs, even very young and very small dogs, in the dormitories.
food
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
good-hearted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
harness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "CHAS" Only one thing troubled Joe, which was that he couldn't have Zephaniah with him.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "CHAS" Only one thing troubled Joe, which was that he couldn't have Zephaniah with him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "CHAS" Only one thing troubled Joe, which was that he couldn't have Zephaniah with him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Faculty strongly disapproved of dogs, even very young and very small dogs, in the dormitories.
installed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The pun is not mine, but Myron's.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "CHAS" Only one thing troubled Joe, which was that he couldn't have Zephaniah with him.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
lavishly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
litter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
Merriman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The pun is not mine, but Myron's.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
Myron's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pun is not mine, but Myron's.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The pun is not mine, but Myron's.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Faculty strongly disapproved of dogs, even very young and very small dogs, in the dormitories.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "CHAS" Only one thing troubled Joe, which was that he couldn't have Zephaniah with him.
Only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "CHAS" Only one thing troubled Joe, which was that he couldn't have Zephaniah with him.
parting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
pun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pun is not mine, but Myron's.
puppy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
rigged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
sisters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Faculty strongly disapproved of dogs, even very young and very small dogs, in the dormitories.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
stableman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
stall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
sternly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
strongly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Faculty strongly disapproved of dogs, even very young and very small dogs, in the dormitories.
supplied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "CHAS" Only one thing troubled Joe, which was that he couldn't have Zephaniah with him.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Faculty strongly disapproved of dogs, even very young and very small dogs, in the dormitories.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "CHAS" Only one thing troubled Joe, which was that he couldn't have Zephaniah with him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
troubled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "CHAS" Only one thing troubled Joe, which was that he couldn't have Zephaniah with him.
unhappy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puppy biscuit, which Merriman sternly decreed was to be its only food, was laid in lavishly, a china drinking bowl was supplied and Zephaniah, very unhappy at parting from his brothers and sisters and mother, was duly _installed_.
unused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he made arrangements with a good-hearted stableman to look after the puppy and himself rigged up a home for it in an unused stall behind a litter of brooms and old harness and buckets.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Faculty strongly disapproved of dogs, even very young and very small dogs, in the dormitories.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "CHAS" Only one thing troubled Joe, which was that he couldn't have Zephaniah with him.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "CHAS" Only one thing troubled Joe, which was that he couldn't have Zephaniah with him.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "CHAS" Only one thing troubled Joe, which was that he couldn't have Zephaniah with him.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Faculty strongly disapproved of dogs, even very young and very small dogs, in the dormitories.
Zephaniah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "CHAS" Only one thing troubled Joe, which was that he couldn't have Zephaniah with him.
