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 I Nearly a month had elapsed, and the cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever.
affair
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From this reading The inspector knew that the affair was referred to as "Wensdale's Waterloo," and his failure to throw light on the mystery was beginning to tell upon his nerves.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I Nearly a month had elapsed, and the cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I Nearly a month had elapsed, and the cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sir John Hackblock had written to the Chief Commissioner and a question had been asked in the House.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The inspector knew that the affair was referred to as "Wensdale's Waterloo," and his failure to throw light on the mystery was beginning to tell upon his nerves.
cattle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inspector Wensdale's colleagues had learned that it was dangerous to mention in his presence the words "cattle" or "maiming."
cattle-maiming
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From this reading I Nearly a month had elapsed, and the cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever.
Chief
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From this reading Sir John Hackblock had written to the Chief Commissioner and a question had been asked in the House.
colleagues
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From this reading Inspector Wensdale's colleagues had learned that it was dangerous to mention in his presence the words "cattle" or "maiming."
Commissioner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir John Hackblock had written to the Chief Commissioner and a question had been asked in the House.
committed
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From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
crimes
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From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
dangerous
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From this reading Inspector Wensdale's colleagues had learned that it was dangerous to mention in his presence the words "cattle" or "maiming."
down
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From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
elapsed
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From this reading I Nearly a month had elapsed, and the cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I Nearly a month had elapsed, and the cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever.
failure
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From this reading The inspector knew that the affair was referred to as "Wensdale's Waterloo," and his failure to throw light on the mystery was beginning to tell upon his nerves.
far
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From this reading I Nearly a month had elapsed, and the cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever.
followed
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From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
Hackblock
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From this reading Sir John Hackblock had written to the Chief Commissioner and a question had been asked in the House.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I Nearly a month had elapsed, and the cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Inspector Wensdale's colleagues had learned that it was dangerous to mention in his presence the words "cattle" or "maiming."
House
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir John Hackblock had written to the Chief Commissioner and a question had been asked in the House.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I Nearly a month had elapsed, and the cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
Inspector
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inspector Wensdale's colleagues had learned that it was dangerous to mention in his presence the words "cattle" or "maiming."
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Inspector Wensdale's colleagues had learned that it was dangerous to mention in his presence the words "cattle" or "maiming."
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir John Hackblock had written to the Chief Commissioner and a question had been asked in the House.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspector knew that the affair was referred to as "Wensdale's Waterloo," and his failure to throw light on the mystery was beginning to tell upon his nerves.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inspector Wensdale's colleagues had learned that it was dangerous to mention in his presence the words "cattle" or "maiming."
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspector knew that the affair was referred to as "Wensdale's Waterloo," and his failure to throw light on the mystery was beginning to tell upon his nerves.
maiming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inspector Wensdale's colleagues had learned that it was dangerous to mention in his presence the words "cattle" or "maiming."
mention
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From this reading Inspector Wensdale's colleagues had learned that it was dangerous to mention in his presence the words "cattle" or "maiming."
month
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Nearly a month had elapsed, and the cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
mystery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Nearly a month had elapsed, and the cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever.
Nearly
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From this reading I Nearly a month had elapsed, and the cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever.
neighbourhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
nerves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspector knew that the affair was referred to as "Wensdale's Waterloo," and his failure to throw light on the mystery was beginning to tell upon his nerves.
occupations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Nearly a month had elapsed, and the cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The inspector knew that the affair was referred to as "Wensdale's Waterloo," and his failure to throw light on the mystery was beginning to tell upon his nerves.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Inspector Wensdale's colleagues had learned that it was dangerous to mention in his presence the words "cattle" or "maiming."
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inspector Wensdale's colleagues had learned that it was dangerous to mention in his presence the words "cattle" or "maiming."
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Sir John Hackblock had written to the Chief Commissioner and a question had been asked in the House.
referred
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From this reading The inspector knew that the affair was referred to as "Wensdale's Waterloo," and his failure to throw light on the mystery was beginning to tell upon his nerves.
Scotland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I Nearly a month had elapsed, and the cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever.
settled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir John Hackblock had written to the Chief Commissioner and a question had been asked in the House.
solution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Nearly a month had elapsed, and the cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever.
suit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The inspector knew that the affair was referred to as "Wensdale's Waterloo," and his failure to throw light on the mystery was beginning to tell upon his nerves.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Inspector Wensdale's colleagues had learned that it was dangerous to mention in his presence the words "cattle" or "maiming."
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I Nearly a month had elapsed, and the cattle-maiming mystery seemed as far off solution as ever.
throw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspector knew that the affair was referred to as "Wensdale's Waterloo," and his failure to throw light on the mystery was beginning to tell upon his nerves.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The inspector knew that the affair was referred to as "Wensdale's Waterloo," and his failure to throw light on the mystery was beginning to tell upon his nerves.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Inspector Wensdale's colleagues had learned that it was dangerous to mention in his presence the words "cattle" or "maiming."
Waterloo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspector knew that the affair was referred to as "Wensdale's Waterloo," and his failure to throw light on the mystery was beginning to tell upon his nerves.
Wensdale's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inspector Wensdale's colleagues had learned that it was dangerous to mention in his presence the words "cattle" or "maiming."
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inspector Wensdale's colleagues had learned that it was dangerous to mention in his presence the words "cattle" or "maiming."
written
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir John Hackblock had written to the Chief Commissioner and a question had been asked in the House.
Yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The neighbourhood in which the crimes had been committed had once more settled down to its usual occupations, and Scotland Yard had followed suit.
