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 tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
addressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
backwards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
bar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
brandy-and-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/
two people or things considered together
From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.
drank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
forwardsnounUS /ˈforwards/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
horse-fair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
lodgings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.
obliged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
Pigeon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.
posted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
purposely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
somewhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
Thomas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.
write
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.
