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 WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
accidental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That is, he walked of nights and on rainy days.
appointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading On fine days, he worked in Colonel Woodruff's fields as of yore.
attached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
bandit's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But Jim's salary was to be three hundred and sixty dollars for nine months' work in the Woodruff school, and he was to find himself--and his mother.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
BROWN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Jim's salary was to be three hundred and sixty dollars for nine months' work in the Woodruff school, and he was to find himself--and his mother.
Colonel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On fine days, he worked in Colonel Woodruff's fields as of yore.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is, he walked of nights and on rainy days.
developed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
dollars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
duties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
election
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
fields
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On fine days, he worked in Colonel Woodruff's fields as of yore.
fifty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Jim's salary was to be three hundred and sixty dollars for nine months' work in the Woodruff school, and he was to find himself--and his mother.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On fine days, he worked in Colonel Woodruff's fields as of yore.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But Jim's salary was to be three hundred and sixty dollars for nine months' work in the Woodruff school, and he was to find himself--and his mother.
ghost's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
habits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But Jim's salary was to be three hundred and sixty dollars for nine months' work in the Woodruff school, and he was to find himself--and his mother.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Jim's salary was to be three hundred and sixty dollars for nine months' work in the Woodruff school, and he was to find himself--and his mother.
Immediately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On fine days, he worked in Colonel Woodruff's fields as of yore.
Irwin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
Jim's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Jim's salary was to be three hundred and sixty dollars for nine months' work in the Woodruff school, and he was to find himself--and his mother.
learning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Jim's salary was to be three hundred and sixty dollars for nine months' work in the Woodruff school, and he was to find himself--and his mother.
MOUSE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
nightsnounUS /naɪts/
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading That is, he walked of nights and on rainy days.
nine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Jim's salary was to be three hundred and sixty dollars for nine months' work in the Woodruff school, and he was to find himself--and his mother.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That is, he walked of nights and on rainy days.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
preliminary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
rainy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is, he walked of nights and on rainy days.
salary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
sixty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Jim's salary was to be three hundred and sixty dollars for nine months' work in the Woodruff school, and he was to find himself--and his mother.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
teacher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That is, he walked of nights and on rainy days.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Jim's salary was to be three hundred and sixty dollars for nine months' work in the Woodruff school, and he was to find himself--and his mother.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
vacation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is, he walked of nights and on rainy days.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But Jim's salary was to be three hundred and sixty dollars for nine months' work in the Woodruff school, and he was to find himself--and his mother.
WHATpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
Woodruff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT IS A BROWN MOUSE Immediately upon the accidental election of Jim Irwin to the position of teacher of the Woodruff school, he developed habits somewhat like a ghost's or a bandit's.
Woodruff's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On fine days, he worked in Colonel Woodruff's fields as of yore.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Jim's salary was to be three hundred and sixty dollars for nine months' work in the Woodruff school, and he was to find himself--and his mother.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On fine days, he worked in Colonel Woodruff's fields as of yore.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he been appointed to a position attached to a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year, he might have spent six months on a preliminary vacation in learning something about his new duties.
yore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On fine days, he worked in Colonel Woodruff's fields as of yore.
