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 “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What can it all mean?” asked Ormiston, appealing more to society at large than to his bewildered companion.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It seems almost impossible that she can have been carried off--doesn't it?”
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
amaze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Norman and Ormiston stopped in the lower hall and looked at each other in mute amaze.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The search was given over at last in despair, and the doctor took his hat and disappeared.
appealing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What can it all mean?” asked Ormiston, appealing more to society at large than to his bewildered companion.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “What can it all mean?” asked Ormiston, appealing more to society at large than to his bewildered companion.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The search was given over at last in despair, and the doctor took his hat and disappeared.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “It seems almost impossible that she can have been carried off--doesn't it?”
bewilderednounUS /bewildered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “What can it all mean?” asked Ormiston, appealing more to society at large than to his bewildered companion.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “What can it all mean?” asked Ormiston, appealing more to society at large than to his bewildered companion.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It seems almost impossible that she can have been carried off--doesn't it?”
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
companion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What can it all mean?” asked Ormiston, appealing more to society at large than to his bewildered companion.
compared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
despair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The search was given over at last in despair, and the doctor took his hat and disappeared.
desperate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The search was given over at last in despair, and the doctor took his hat and disappeared.
distractedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
doctornounUS /doctor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The search was given over at last in despair, and the doctor took his hat and disappeared.
doesn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It seems almost impossible that she can have been carried off--doesn't it?”
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Sir Norman and Ormiston stopped in the lower hall and looked at each other in mute amaze.
faintest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The search was given over at last in despair, and the doctor took his hat and disappeared.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Norman and Ormiston stopped in the lower hall and looked at each other in mute amaze.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The search was given over at last in despair, and the doctor took his hat and disappeared.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “It seems almost impossible that she can have been carried off--doesn't it?”
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The search was given over at last in despair, and the doctor took his hat and disappeared.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It seems almost impossible that she can have been carried off--doesn't it?”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The search was given over at last in despair, and the doctor took his hat and disappeared.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “What can it all mean?” asked Ormiston, appealing more to society at large than to his bewildered companion.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What can it all mean?” asked Ormiston, appealing more to society at large than to his bewildered companion.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The search was given over at last in despair, and the doctor took his hat and disappeared.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sir Norman and Ormiston stopped in the lower hall and looked at each other in mute amaze.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Norman and Ormiston stopped in the lower hall and looked at each other in mute amaze.
mean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What can it all mean?” asked Ormiston, appealing more to society at large than to his bewildered companion.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What can it all mean?” asked Ormiston, appealing more to society at large than to his bewildered companion.
mute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Norman and Ormiston stopped in the lower hall and looked at each other in mute amaze.
Norman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Norman and Ormiston stopped in the lower hall and looked at each other in mute amaze.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It seems almost impossible that she can have been carried off--doesn't it?”
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
Ormiston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Norman and Ormiston stopped in the lower hall and looked at each other in mute amaze.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Norman and Ormiston stopped in the lower hall and looked at each other in mute amaze.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The search was given over at last in despair, and the doctor took his hat and disappeared.
plague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
search
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The search was given over at last in despair, and the doctor took his hat and disappeared.
seems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It seems almost impossible that she can have been carried off--doesn't it?”
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “It seems almost impossible that she can have been carried off--doesn't it?”
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Norman and Ormiston stopped in the lower hall and looked at each other in mute amaze.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
society
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What can it all mean?” asked Ormiston, appealing more to society at large than to his bewildered companion.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
stoppednounUS /stopped/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sir Norman and Ormiston stopped in the lower hall and looked at each other in mute amaze.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “What can it all mean?” asked Ormiston, appealing more to society at large than to his bewildered companion.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The search was given over at last in despair, and the doctor took his hat and disappeared.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “What can it all mean?” asked Ormiston, appealing more to society at large than to his bewildered companion.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The search was given over at last in despair, and the doctor took his hat and disappeared.
triflenounUS /ˈtraɪfəl/
something that needs very little effort
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The search was given over at last in despair, and the doctor took his hat and disappeared.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What can it all mean?” asked Ormiston, appealing more to society at large than to his bewildered companion.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “I haven't the faintest idea,” said Sir Norman, distractedly; “only I am pretty certain, if I don't find her, I shall do something so desperate that the plague will be a trifle compared to it!”
