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 He turned and fled across the water-front, a meagre shadow in a flapping overcoat, with Martin straining to keep up with him.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He turned and fled across the water-front, a meagre shadow in a flapping overcoat, with Martin straining to keep up with him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If Ruth could see me now, was his thought, while he wondered as to what constituted the real dirt.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
boarded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
bought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
Brissenden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Come on,—I’ll show you the real dirt,” Brissenden said to him, one evening in January.
Building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
burdened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
ComenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Come on,—I’ll show you the real dirt,” Brissenden said to him, one evening in January.
constituted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Ruth could see me now, was his thought, while he wondered as to what constituted the real dirt.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If Ruth could see me now, was his thought, while he wondered as to what constituted the real dirt.
dined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
dirt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Come on,—I’ll show you the real dirt,” Brissenden said to him, one evening in January.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Come on,—I’ll show you the real dirt,” Brissenden said to him, one evening in January.
Ferry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
flapping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and fled across the water-front, a meagre shadow in a flapping overcoat, with Martin straining to keep up with him.
fled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and fled across the water-front, a meagre shadow in a flapping overcoat, with Martin straining to keep up with him.
Francisco
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
gallon-demijohns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He turned and fled across the water-front, a meagre shadow in a flapping overcoat, with Martin straining to keep up with him.
heels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Come on,—I’ll show you the real dirt,” Brissenden said to him, one evening in January.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Come on,—I’ll show you the real dirt,” Brissenden said to him, one evening in January.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Ruth could see me now, was his thought, while he wondered as to what constituted the real dirt.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Come on,—I’ll show you the real dirt,” Brissenden said to him, one evening in January.
January
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Come on,—I’ll show you the real dirt,” Brissenden said to him, one evening in January.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and fled across the water-front, a meagre shadow in a flapping overcoat, with Martin straining to keep up with him.
liquor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
Martin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If Ruth could see me now, was his thought, while he wondered as to what constituted the real dirt.
meagre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and fled across the water-front, a meagre shadow in a flapping overcoat, with Martin straining to keep up with him.
Mission
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Ruth could see me now, was his thought, while he wondered as to what constituted the real dirt.
Oakland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Come on,—I’ll show you the real dirt,” Brissenden said to him, one evening in January.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Come on,—I’ll show you the real dirt,” Brissenden said to him, one evening in January.
overcoat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and fled across the water-front, a meagre shadow in a flapping overcoat, with Martin straining to keep up with him.
port
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
quart-bottles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Come on,—I’ll show you the real dirt,” Brissenden said to him, one evening in January.
returning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
Ruth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Ruth could see me now, was his thought, while he wondered as to what constituted the real dirt.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Come on,—I’ll show you the real dirt,” Brissenden said to him, one evening in January.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Ruth could see me now, was his thought, while he wondered as to what constituted the real dirt.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading He turned and fled across the water-front, a meagre shadow in a flapping overcoat, with Martin straining to keep up with him.
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Come on,—I’ll show you the real dirt,” Brissenden said to him, one evening in January.
store
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
straining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and fled across the water-front, a meagre shadow in a flapping overcoat, with Martin straining to keep up with him.
Street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Come on,—I’ll show you the real dirt,” Brissenden said to him, one evening in January.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If Ruth could see me now, was his thought, while he wondered as to what constituted the real dirt.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Come on,—I’ll show you the real dirt,” Brissenden said to him, one evening in January.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and fled across the water-front, a meagre shadow in a flapping overcoat, with Martin straining to keep up with him.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and fled across the water-front, a meagre shadow in a flapping overcoat, with Martin straining to keep up with him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If Ruth could see me now, was his thought, while he wondered as to what constituted the real dirt.
water-front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and fled across the water-front, a meagre shadow in a flapping overcoat, with Martin straining to keep up with him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading If Ruth could see me now, was his thought, while he wondered as to what constituted the real dirt.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading If Ruth could see me now, was his thought, while he wondered as to what constituted the real dirt.
whim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had dined together in San Francisco, and were at the Ferry Building, returning to Oakland, when the whim came to him to show Martin the “real dirt.”
whiskey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
wholesale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a wholesale liquor store he bought two gallon-demijohns of old port, and with one in each hand boarded a Mission Street car, Martin at his heels burdened with several quart-bottles of whiskey.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He turned and fled across the water-front, a meagre shadow in a flapping overcoat, with Martin straining to keep up with him.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If Ruth could see me now, was his thought, while he wondered as to what constituted the real dirt.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Come on,—I’ll show you the real dirt,” Brissenden said to him, one evening in January.
