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 THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
annoyance
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From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
anxiety
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From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
anxious
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From this reading If he had any leanings towards staying at Hertford it was because he was anxious to examine the contents of the wallet at his leisure.
any
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From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading If he had any leanings towards staying at Hertford it was because he was anxious to examine the contents of the wallet at his leisure.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
Bond
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From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
cause
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
condition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
contents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had any leanings towards staying at Hertford it was because he was anxious to examine the contents of the wallet at his leisure.
definite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
desire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
dilemma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
discovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
due
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
examine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had any leanings towards staying at Hertford it was because he was anxious to examine the contents of the wallet at his leisure.
finding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
garage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
Hertford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
immediate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If he had any leanings towards staying at Hertford it was because he was anxious to examine the contents of the wallet at his leisure.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
leanings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had any leanings towards staying at Hertford it was because he was anxious to examine the contents of the wallet at his leisure.
leisure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had any leanings towards staying at Hertford it was because he was anxious to examine the contents of the wallet at his leisure.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
local
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
marked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
missing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
motored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
necessity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
NIGHT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
Odette
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
particular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
plans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
produced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
Rider
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
sleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
spend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
staying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had any leanings towards staying at Hertford it was because he was anxious to examine the contents of the wallet at his leisure.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
Street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
Tarling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading If he had any leanings towards staying at Hertford it was because he was anxious to examine the contents of the wallet at his leisure.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
train
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate necessity for his return to town and his annoyance at finding the last train gone was due rather to a natural desire to sleep in his own bed, than to any other cause.
uncertainty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
urgency
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
VISITOR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
wallet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had any leanings towards staying at Hertford it was because he was anxious to examine the contents of the wallet at his leisure.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might have got a car from a local garage, and motored to London, if there had been any particular urgency, but, he told himself, he might as well spend the night in Hertford as in Bond Street.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading If he had any call to town it might be discovered in his anxiety as to what had happened to Odette Rider; whether she had returned to her hotel or was still marked "missing" by the police.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE NIGHT VISITOR Tarling was less in a dilemma than in that condition of uncertainty which is produced by having no definite plans one way or the other.
