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 We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
AMONGprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading HONOR AMONG THIEVES.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
belonged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
braced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
cautiously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We got off our horses and went cautiously up to him.
cease
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
coat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
colors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
courtesies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
cunning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
exchange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
exercise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
flying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We got off our horses and went cautiously up to him.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
half-lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
half-sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
handles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We got off our horses and went cautiously up to him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
HONOR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HONOR AMONG THIEVES.
horses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We got off our horses and went cautiously up to him.
immediate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
infernaladjectiveUS /ɪnˈfɜːrnəl/
extremely troublesome or annoying
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
instinctively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
leadenadjectiveUS /ˈlɛdən/
heavy, dull, or grey in appearance or movement
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
managed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We got off our horses and went cautiously up to him.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
scarlet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
schemes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
shoulders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
six-shooters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
THIEVES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HONOR AMONG THIEVES.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
trunk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
unlikely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We got off our horses and went cautiously up to him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
vicinity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
watchfulness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We got off our horses and went cautiously up to him.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading And a second look showed us that the scarlet coat belonged to a man who half-sat, half-lay on the ground, his shoulders braced against the trunk of a fallen tree.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was unlikely that they would cease to exercise the cunning and watchfulness that had, so far, carried their infernal schemes through with flying colors.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading We knew, even as our fingers instinctively closed on the handles of our six-shooters, that we had not come upon the men we wanted; in such a case there would have been an exchange of leaden courtesies long before we managed to get in their immediate vicinity.
