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 Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I don’t know about that.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
ago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
arranged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
Assistant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
bated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
broad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
Commissioner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
Commissioner's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
crossing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don’t know about that.
doubtful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
edifice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Would he see you?
he's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
House
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I don’t know about that.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I don’t know about that.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
muddy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
neat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
permanent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
personage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
public
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
request
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
schoolboy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
secretary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Would he see you?
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
smooth-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
sought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
speech
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
symmetrically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I don’t know about that.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
thoroughfare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
trench
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
Under-Secretary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
unpaid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
walk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has walked over from the House an hour ago to talk with the permanent Under-Secretary, and now he’s ready to walk back again.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
wet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading This fair, smooth-faced young man, whose symmetrically arranged hair gave him the air of a large and neat schoolboy, met the Assistant Commissioner’s request with a doubtful look, and spoke with bated breath.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
Wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Would he see you?
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Would he see you?
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Assistant Commissioner walked along a short and narrow street like a wet, muddy trench, then crossing a very broad thoroughfare entered a public edifice, and sought speech with a young private secretary (unpaid) of a great personage.
