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 Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
accordance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
action
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FOX AND WOLF.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
attempted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
carefully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
commit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
contained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
crept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
custom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
daily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
desk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
dishonorable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
drawers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
EverythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everything was carefully locked.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
footsteps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
FOX
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FOX AND WOLF.
handle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
information
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
James
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
listened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
locked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything was carefully locked.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
papers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
pull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
retreating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
safe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
stealthily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Everything was carefully locked.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
WOLF
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FOX AND WOLF.