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 Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
Basil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading No plenty money, no can do plenty work.”
Chinese
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
clerk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
CLUTCH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
Company's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
Coolie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Coolie men talkee muchee.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading No plenty money, no can do plenty work.”
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
fourth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
glowering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
Holman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
hong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
impatiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
looked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Coolie men talkee muchee.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No plenty money, no can do plenty work.”
muchee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Coolie men talkee muchee.
next
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What now?”
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
plenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No plenty money, no can do plenty work.”
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
steadily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
Steamship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
still
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
talkee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Coolie men talkee muchee.
tangle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
telegram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
third
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
tightening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
TONGS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holman sat glowering at a telegram he was reading for the third or fourth time, but looked up impatiently as a Chinese clerk came in and stood waiting to speak.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What now?”
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE CLUTCH OF THE TONGS The next day there was still no word of Basil, and at the Steamship Company’s hong the tangle was steadily tightening.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No plenty money, no can do plenty work.”