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 A LAST RESORT.
agreed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
Aunt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
basis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/
in addition to; as well as
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
Board
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
bonds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
company
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
Darby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
due
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
fully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
groceries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
issuing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
LASTnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A LAST RESORT.
Matilda's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
necessities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
Ogden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
pay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
paying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
proposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
proposition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was rather a startling proposition.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was rather a startling proposition.
redeemable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
redeeming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
relieve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
RESORT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LAST RESORT.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
scrip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
seven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
startling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was rather a startling proposition.
store
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was rather a startling proposition.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
Wilson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides redeeming the bonds when they came due."
