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 Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
admission
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
apparent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
applied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
astir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
bon-fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
brick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
court-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
deliver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
eagerness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
hastened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
hesitated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
jail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
jailer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
lazily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
livery-stable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
Merchants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
message
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
mission
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
mistrusted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
pavements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
public
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
rode
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
shook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to be mistrusted by him, and he shook his head.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
sprinkling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
stores
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I hastened to the jail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied for admission.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
trash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
tree-tops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Merchants were sprinkling the brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public square was a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to the livery-stable, and the town was lazily astir.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I told him that he might go in with me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message.
