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 next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Not unless we thought you mightn’t be as able to pay us as well later on as when we ask for it,” the old man answered.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Means a bank wants its money back; that’s all,” he said.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Not unless we thought you mightn’t be as able to pay us as well later on as when we ask for it,” the old man answered.
anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/
any person at all
From this reading “There’s plenty of reasons why a bank wants money—same as anybody else.”
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “There’s plenty of reasons why a bank wants money—same as anybody else.”
ask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Not unless we thought you mightn’t be as able to pay us as well later on as when we ask for it,” the old man answered.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Means a bank wants its money back; that’s all,” he said.
bank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Means a bank wants its money back; that’s all,” he said.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Not unless we thought you mightn’t be as able to pay us as well later on as when we ask for it,” the old man answered.
bit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
borrowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
brittleadjectiveUS /ˈbrɪtəl/
hard but easily broken
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
chuckle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
cover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
crackling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
customer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s plenty of reasons why a bank wants money—same as anybody else.”
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
FirstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Means a bank wants its money back; that’s all,” he said.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
hickory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
instance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading “Means a bank wants its money back; that’s all,” he said.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Not unless we thought you mightn’t be as able to pay us as well later on as when we ask for it,” the old man answered.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
loan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
lunch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Not unless we thought you mightn’t be as able to pay us as well later on as when we ask for it,” the old man answered.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
Means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Means a bank wants its money back; that’s all,” he said.
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
mention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
mightn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Not unless we thought you mightn’t be as able to pay us as well later on as when we ask for it,” the old man answered.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Means a bank wants its money back; that’s all,” he said.
National
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
needed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Not unless we thought you mightn’t be as able to pay us as well later on as when we ask for it,” the old man answered.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
owed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
pay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
plenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s plenty of reasons why a bank wants money—same as anybody else.”
property
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “There’s plenty of reasons why a bank wants money—same as anybody else.”
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Means a bank wants its money back; that’s all,” he said.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “There’s plenty of reasons why a bank wants money—same as anybody else.”
sapless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
serviceable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
supposenounUS /ˈsuppose/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Means a bank wants its money back; that’s all,” he said.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s plenty of reasons why a bank wants money—same as anybody else.”
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Not unless we thought you mightn’t be as able to pay us as well later on as when we ask for it,” the old man answered.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading “Not unless we thought you mightn’t be as able to pay us as well later on as when we ask for it,” the old man answered.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Not unless we thought you mightn’t be as able to pay us as well later on as when we ask for it,” the old man answered.
wants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Means a bank wants its money back; that’s all,” he said.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “Not unless we thought you mightn’t be as able to pay us as well later on as when we ask for it,” the old man answered.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Not unless we thought you mightn’t be as able to pay us as well later on as when we ask for it,” the old man answered.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading THE next day, at lunch, she asked her father what it meant, though she did not mention Dan; and she brought out a crackling chuckle from that old bit of hickory, now brittle and almost sapless, but still serviceable.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “Not unless we thought you mightn’t be as able to pay us as well later on as when we ask for it,” the old man answered.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s plenty of reasons why a bank wants money—same as anybody else.”
worry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “But suppose I’d borrowed of a bank and was a good customer, and the bank knew I had plenty of property to cover the loan, would the First National, for instance, ever worry me to pay it, if they knew I only needed a little time to get all I owed it?”
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Not unless we thought you mightn’t be as able to pay us as well later on as when we ask for it,” the old man answered.
