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 On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
address
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His youngest son, however, had furnished the more impressive address to Dr. Bompas, whose hurried hand it was that dealt the first blow.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This circumstance was not so usual as it sounds, because Mr. Upton conducted all his correspondence from his office at the works.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This circumstance was not so usual as it sounds, because Mr. Upton conducted all his correspondence from his office at the works.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This circumstance was not so usual as it sounds, because Mr. Upton conducted all his correspondence from his office at the works.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading This circumstance was not so usual as it sounds, because Mr. Upton conducted all his correspondence from his office at the works.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It so happened that a letter from Dr. Bompas had been expected; this made the letter he wrote especially upsetting, and for the following reason.
blow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His youngest son, however, had furnished the more impressive address to Dr. Bompas, whose hurried hand it was that dealt the first blow.
Bompas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His youngest son, however, had furnished the more impressive address to Dr. Bompas, whose hurried hand it was that dealt the first blow.
breakfast-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
circumstance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This circumstance was not so usual as it sounds, because Mr. Upton conducted all his correspondence from his office at the works.
conducted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This circumstance was not so usual as it sounds, because Mr. Upton conducted all his correspondence from his office at the works.
correspondence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This circumstance was not so usual as it sounds, because Mr. Upton conducted all his correspondence from his office at the works.
dealt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His youngest son, however, had furnished the more impressive address to Dr. Bompas, whose hurried hand it was that dealt the first blow.
delivered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
direct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
disastrous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His youngest son, however, had furnished the more impressive address to Dr. Bompas, whose hurried hand it was that dealt the first blow.
especially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It so happened that a letter from Dr. Bompas had been expected; this made the letter he wrote especially upsetting, and for the following reason.
expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It so happened that a letter from Dr. Bompas had been expected; this made the letter he wrote especially upsetting, and for the following reason.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His youngest son, however, had furnished the more impressive address to Dr. Bompas, whose hurried hand it was that dealt the first blow.
following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
Friday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This circumstance was not so usual as it sounds, because Mr. Upton conducted all his correspondence from his office at the works.
furnished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His youngest son, however, had furnished the more impressive address to Dr. Bompas, whose hurried hand it was that dealt the first blow.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His youngest son, however, had furnished the more impressive address to Dr. Bompas, whose hurried hand it was that dealt the first blow.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It so happened that a letter from Dr. Bompas had been expected; this made the letter he wrote especially upsetting, and for the following reason.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This circumstance was not so usual as it sounds, because Mr. Upton conducted all his correspondence from his office at the works.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading His youngest son, however, had furnished the more impressive address to Dr. Bompas, whose hurried hand it was that dealt the first blow.
hurried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His youngest son, however, had furnished the more impressive address to Dr. Bompas, whose hurried hand it was that dealt the first blow.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
impressive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His youngest son, however, had furnished the more impressive address to Dr. Bompas, whose hurried hand it was that dealt the first blow.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This circumstance was not so usual as it sounds, because Mr. Upton conducted all his correspondence from his office at the works.
Leicestershire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It so happened that a letter from Dr. Bompas had been expected; this made the letter he wrote especially upsetting, and for the following reason.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His youngest son, however, had furnished the more impressive address to Dr. Bompas, whose hurried hand it was that dealt the first blow.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
necessary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This circumstance was not so usual as it sounds, because Mr. Upton conducted all his correspondence from his office at the works.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This circumstance was not so usual as it sounds, because Mr. Upton conducted all his correspondence from his office at the works.
ominous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It so happened that a letter from Dr. Bompas had been expected; this made the letter he wrote especially upsetting, and for the following reason.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This circumstance was not so usual as it sounds, because Mr. Upton conducted all his correspondence from his office at the works.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His youngest son, however, had furnished the more impressive address to Dr. Bompas, whose hurried hand it was that dealt the first blow.
sounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This circumstance was not so usual as it sounds, because Mr. Upton conducted all his correspondence from his office at the works.
stationery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His youngest son, however, had furnished the more impressive address to Dr. Bompas, whose hurried hand it was that dealt the first blow.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
upsetting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It so happened that a letter from Dr. Bompas had been expected; this made the letter he wrote especially upsetting, and for the following reason.
Upton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This circumstance was not so usual as it sounds, because Mr. Upton conducted all his correspondence from his office at the works.
village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the following morning, the ominous Friday of this disastrous week, there was a letter for Mr. Upton on the breakfast-table down in Leicestershire.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading His youngest son, however, had furnished the more impressive address to Dr. Bompas, whose hurried hand it was that dealt the first blow.
wished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
works
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This circumstance was not so usual as it sounds, because Mr. Upton conducted all his correspondence from his office at the works.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It so happened that a letter from Dr. Bompas had been expected; this made the letter he wrote especially upsetting, and for the following reason.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
youngest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His youngest son, however, had furnished the more impressive address to Dr. Bompas, whose hurried hand it was that dealt the first blow.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading If you simply put the name of the village, as he did on his stationery, to the works it went; it was necessary to direct your letter to the hall if you wished it to be delivered there; and few there were who had anything to say to Mr. Upton, on paper, unless it was on business too.
