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 She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dan dallied with Bob, displaying all the artifices of an old campaigner.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mrs. Dan dallied with Bob, displaying all the artifices of an old campaigner.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
artifices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dan dallied with Bob, displaying all the artifices of an old campaigner.
barrel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Of course, she had no idea how easy it might be for her to learn all she wanted to.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
bishop's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
Bob
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dan dallied with Bob, displaying all the artifices of an old campaigner.
boxes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
campaigner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dan dallied with Bob, displaying all the artifices of an old campaigner.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course, she had no idea how easy it might be for her to learn all she wanted to.
dallied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dan dallied with Bob, displaying all the artifices of an old campaigner.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dan dallied with Bob, displaying all the artifices of an old campaigner.
displaying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dan dallied with Bob, displaying all the artifices of an old campaigner.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course, she had no idea how easy it might be for her to learn all she wanted to.
facts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a fine tableful of people, of which they were a part.
flow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Of course, she had no idea how easy it might be for her to learn all she wanted to.
force
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
guard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Of course, she had no idea how easy it might be for her to learn all she wanted to.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Of course, she had no idea how easy it might be for her to learn all she wanted to.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course, she had no idea how easy it might be for her to learn all she wanted to.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course, she had no idea how easy it might be for her to learn all she wanted to.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
information
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
interruption
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Of course, she had no idea how easy it might be for her to learn all she wanted to.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
learn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course, she had no idea how easy it might be for her to learn all she wanted to.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
massive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Of course, she had no idea how easy it might be for her to learn all she wanted to.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dan dallied with Bob, displaying all the artifices of an old campaigner.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Of course, she had no idea how easy it might be for her to learn all she wanted to.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Dan dallied with Bob, displaying all the artifices of an old campaigner.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dan dallied with Bob, displaying all the artifices of an old campaigner.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
outer-doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a fine tableful of people, of which they were a part.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine tableful of people, of which they were a part.
plug
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
pull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
puncheonnounUS /ˈpuncheon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
regarded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
reserve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
safety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Of course, she had no idea how easy it might be for her to learn all she wanted to.
smaller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
startling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
tableful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine tableful of people, of which they were a part.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Dan dallied with Bob, displaying all the artifices of an old campaigner.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was a fine tableful of people, of which they were a part.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Of course, she had no idea how easy it might be for her to learn all she wanted to.
various
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
vaultnounUS /vɔːlt/
a stone room, often below a church, used for burial
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course, she had no idea how easy it might be for her to learn all she wanted to.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She could not know he was like a barrel or puncheon of information and that all she had to do was to pull the plug and let information flow out.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was a fine tableful of people, of which they were a part.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a fine tableful of people, of which they were a part.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mrs. Dan dallied with Bob, displaying all the artifices of an old campaigner.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She regarded Bob more in the light of a safety vault; the bishop’s interruption had put him on his guard and she would have to get through those massive outer-doors of his reserve, before she could force the many smaller doors to various boxes full of startling facts.
