adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Remember, Mr. Sparling, it is a serious accusation you ask me to make against a man on proof that you would say was not worth anything.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “It would not be right—that is, not until I am sure about it.”
accusationnounUS /ˌækjəˈzeɪʃən/
a formal charge of wrongdoing brought against a person; the act of imputing blame or guilt
From this reading “Remember, Mr. Sparling, it is a serious accusation you ask me to make against a man on proof that you would say was not worth anything.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading “Remember, Mr. Sparling, it is a serious accusation you ask me to make against a man on proof that you would say was not worth anything.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “It would not be right—that is, not until I am sure about it.”
ANdeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN ELEPHANT IN JAIL “Who is he?”
answerverbUS /ˈænsər/
react verbally
From this reading “I would not care to answer that question just now, Mr. Sparling,” answered Phil calmly.
answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “I would not care to answer that question just now, Mr. Sparling,” answered Phil calmly.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading “Remember, Mr. Sparling, it is a serious accusation you ask me to make against a man on proof that you would say was not worth anything.
askverbUS /æsk/
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Remember, Mr. Sparling, it is a serious accusation you ask me to make against a man on proof that you would say was not worth anything.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “It would not be right—that is, not until I am sure about it.”
calmlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːmli/
with self-possession (especially in times of stress)
From this reading “I would not care to answer that question just now, Mr. Sparling,” answered Phil calmly.
carenounUS /ker/
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading “I would not care to answer that question just now, Mr. Sparling,” answered Phil calmly.
ELEPHANTnounUS /ˈeləfənt/
five-toed pachyderm
From this reading AN ELEPHANT IN JAIL “Who is he?”
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Tell me, or get out.”
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AN ELEPHANT IN JAIL “Who is he?”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I would not care to answer that question just now, Mr. Sparling,” answered Phil calmly.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AN ELEPHANT IN JAIL “Who is he?”
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AN ELEPHANT IN JAIL “Who is he?”
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It would not be right—that is, not until I am sure about it.”
JAILnounUS /dʒeɪl/
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
From this reading AN ELEPHANT IN JAIL “Who is he?”
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading “I would not care to answer that question just now, Mr. Sparling,” answered Phil calmly.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading “Remember, Mr. Sparling, it is a serious accusation you ask me to make against a man on proof that you would say was not worth anything.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “Remember, Mr. Sparling, it is a serious accusation you ask me to make against a man on proof that you would say was not worth anything.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Tell me, or get out.”
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading “I would not care to answer that question just now, Mr. Sparling,” answered Phil calmly.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I would not care to answer that question just now, Mr. Sparling,” answered Phil calmly.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “I would not care to answer that question just now, Mr. Sparling,” answered Phil calmly.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Remember, Mr. Sparling, it is a serious accusation you ask me to make against a man on proof that you would say was not worth anything.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “Tell me, or get out.”
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “Tell me, or get out.”
Phil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I would not care to answer that question just now, Mr. Sparling,” answered Phil calmly.
proofnounUS /pruːf/
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
From this reading “Remember, Mr. Sparling, it is a serious accusation you ask me to make against a man on proof that you would say was not worth anything.
questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading “I would not care to answer that question just now, Mr. Sparling,” answered Phil calmly.
RememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading “Remember, Mr. Sparling, it is a serious accusation you ask me to make against a man on proof that you would say was not worth anything.
rightadverbUS /raɪt/
precisely, exactly
From this reading “It would not be right—that is, not until I am sure about it.”
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading “Remember, Mr. Sparling, it is a serious accusation you ask me to make against a man on proof that you would say was not worth anything.
seriousadjectiveUS /ˈsɪriəs/
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading “Remember, Mr. Sparling, it is a serious accusation you ask me to make against a man on proof that you would say was not worth anything.
SparlingnounUS /ˈspɑːrlɪŋ/
common smelt of Europe
From this reading “I would not care to answer that question just now, Mr. Sparling,” answered Phil calmly.
sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading “It would not be right—that is, not until I am sure about it.”
TellverbUS /tel/
express in words
From this reading “Tell me, or get out.”
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I would not care to answer that question just now, Mr. Sparling,” answered Phil calmly.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I would not care to answer that question just now, Mr. Sparling,” answered Phil calmly.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading “It would not be right—that is, not until I am sure about it.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Remember, Mr. Sparling, it is a serious accusation you ask me to make against a man on proof that you would say was not worth anything.
WhopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading AN ELEPHANT IN JAIL “Who is he?”
worthnounUS /wɜːrθ/
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading “Remember, Mr. Sparling, it is a serious accusation you ask me to make against a man on proof that you would say was not worth anything.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “I would not care to answer that question just now, Mr. Sparling,” answered Phil calmly.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Remember, Mr. Sparling, it is a serious accusation you ask me to make against a man on proof that you would say was not worth anything.
