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 Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
absence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
Ann
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was the middle of the day before they were missed.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
caused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
child
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From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
cigar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
commotion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the middle of the day before they were missed.
disappearance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
discuss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
finished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She sent to inform her husband.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
husband
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From this reading She sent to inform her husband.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
inform
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From this reading She sent to inform her husband.
inquiry
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From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the middle of the day before they were missed.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
messenger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the middle of the day before they were missed.
missed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the middle of the day before they were missed.
motive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
nurse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the middle of the day before they were missed.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
recovery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
renewed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
search
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She sent to inform her husband.
servants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She sent to inform her husband.
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
stealing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
stump
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the middle of the day before they were missed.
TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was the middle of the day before they were missed.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
threw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She sent to inform her husband.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
walk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their absence caused for a time no commotion; the servants said nurse must have taken the child for his usual walk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the middle of the day before they were missed.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was the middle of the day before they were missed.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading But when the nurse from London came, and, after renewed search and inquiry, nothing was heard of them, their disappearance could no longer be kept from lady Ann.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
Wilton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
woman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Wilton asked a question or two of her messenger, said the thing must be seen to, finished his cigar, threw the stump in the fire, and went to his wife; when at once they began to discuss, not the steps to be taken for the recovery of the child, but the woman's motive for stealing him.
