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 Yet I reflected that the tramp--or whatever the man was--had evinced a determination to secure an interview with Mr. Woodward before quitting Darbyville.
Aaron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
ANdeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
astonishedadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/
very surprised
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There was important business to be transacted between them.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Yet I reflected that the tramp--or whatever the man was--had evinced a determination to secure an interview with Mr. Woodward before quitting Darbyville.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading There was important business to be transacted between them.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was important business to be transacted between them.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
company
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
CONVERSATION
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From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
Darbyville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I reflected that the tramp--or whatever the man was--had evinced a determination to secure an interview with Mr. Woodward before quitting Darbyville.
determination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I reflected that the tramp--or whatever the man was--had evinced a determination to secure an interview with Mr. Woodward before quitting Darbyville.
evidence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
evinced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I reflected that the tramp--or whatever the man was--had evinced a determination to secure an interview with Mr. Woodward before quitting Darbyville.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. John Stumpy intended to have his say, whatever that might mean.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
important
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was important business to be transacted between them.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
intended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. John Stumpy intended to have his say, whatever that might mean.
INTERESTING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
interview
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I reflected that the tramp--or whatever the man was--had evinced a determination to secure an interview with Mr. Woodward before quitting Darbyville.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
mean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. John Stumpy intended to have his say, whatever that might mean.
merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Mr. John Stumpy intended to have his say, whatever that might mean.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Yet I reflected that the tramp--or whatever the man was--had evinced a determination to secure an interview with Mr. Woodward before quitting Darbyville.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
quitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I reflected that the tramp--or whatever the man was--had evinced a determination to secure an interview with Mr. Woodward before quitting Darbyville.
reflected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I reflected that the tramp--or whatever the man was--had evinced a determination to secure an interview with Mr. Woodward before quitting Darbyville.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. John Stumpy intended to have his say, whatever that might mean.
secure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I reflected that the tramp--or whatever the man was--had evinced a determination to secure an interview with Mr. Woodward before quitting Darbyville.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
sensesplural nounUS /ˈsɛnsɪz/
powers of perception and awareness
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
Stumpy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Yet I reflected that the tramp--or whatever the man was--had evinced a determination to secure an interview with Mr. Woodward before quitting Darbyville.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There was important business to be transacted between them.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was important business to be transacted between them.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
tramp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I reflected that the tramp--or whatever the man was--had evinced a determination to secure an interview with Mr. Woodward before quitting Darbyville.
transacted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was important business to be transacted between them.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Yet I reflected that the tramp--or whatever the man was--had evinced a determination to secure an interview with Mr. Woodward before quitting Darbyville.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
Woodward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses when I saw Mr. Aaron Woodward coming up the road with John Stumpy beside him.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would have astonished me to have seen the merchant alone, but to see him in company with the very man I was looking for was more than I had thought possible.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet I reflected that the tramp--or whatever the man was--had evinced a determination to secure an interview with Mr. Woodward before quitting Darbyville.
