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 UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
amountverbUS /əˈmaʊnt/
to reach or total a particular quantity or value
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
arrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
assuring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
bachelor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
becoming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
brush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
Charlie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
check
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
cigars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
counting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
courts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
disabused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
discriminating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
disposednounUS /ˈdisposed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
drummer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
Early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
Edward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
El
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
fountain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
genial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
Granger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
incumbent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
January
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
Kinsell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
leisure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
limitless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
liquors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
moustache
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
pair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
pen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
personality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
pleasantnounUS /pleasant/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
portly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
proprietor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
register
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
scrubbing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
seemingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
SURFACE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
tasteverbUS /teɪst/
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
Toyon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
twinkling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
