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 There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
altogether
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was always looking for her, scanned every face in the crowd, looked up at every window.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was always looking for her, scanned every face in the crowd, looked up at every window.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading With that he had to be content.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading He still searched, but it was because he had to search; he had to feel that he was trying, doing something, but no one realized the uselessness of it more than himself.
Bonbright's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He still searched, but it was because he had to search; he had to feel that he was trying, doing something, but no one realized the uselessness of it more than himself.
chance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
content
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With that he had to be content.
convinced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
crowd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was always looking for her, scanned every face in the crowd, looked up at every window.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
discreet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He still searched, but it was because he had to search; he had to feel that he was trying, doing something, but no one realized the uselessness of it more than himself.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He was always looking for her, scanned every face in the crowd, looked up at every window.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was always looking for her, scanned every face in the crowd, looked up at every window.
feel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He still searched, but it was because he had to search; he had to feel that he was trying, doing something, but no one realized the uselessness of it more than himself.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
firm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading With that he had to be content.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He was always looking for her, scanned every face in the crowd, looked up at every window.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He still searched, but it was because he had to search; he had to feel that he was trying, doing something, but no one realized the uselessness of it more than himself.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He still searched, but it was because he had to search; he had to feel that he was trying, doing something, but no one realized the uselessness of it more than himself.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was always looking for her, scanned every face in the crowd, looked up at every window.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was always looking for her, scanned every face in the crowd, looked up at every window.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
missed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
missing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He still searched, but it was because he had to search; he had to feel that he was trying, doing something, but no one realized the uselessness of it more than himself.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He still searched, but it was because he had to search; he had to feel that he was trying, doing something, but no one realized the uselessness of it more than himself.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He still searched, but it was because he had to search; he had to feel that he was trying, doing something, but no one realized the uselessness of it more than himself.
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
professional
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
realized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He still searched, but it was because he had to search; he had to feel that he was trying, doing something, but no one realized the uselessness of it more than himself.
retained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
Ruth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
scanned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was always looking for her, scanned every face in the crowd, looked up at every window.
search
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
searched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He still searched, but it was because he had to search; he had to feel that he was trying, doing something, but no one realized the uselessness of it more than himself.
searchers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He still searched, but it was because he had to search; he had to feel that he was trying, doing something, but no one realized the uselessness of it more than himself.
specialist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He still searched, but it was because he had to search; he had to feel that he was trying, doing something, but no one realized the uselessness of it more than himself.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He still searched, but it was because he had to search; he had to feel that he was trying, doing something, but no one realized the uselessness of it more than himself.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
traces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He still searched, but it was because he had to search; he had to feel that he was trying, doing something, but no one realized the uselessness of it more than himself.
untrained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was always looking for her, scanned every face in the crowd, looked up at every window.
uselessness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He still searched, but it was because he had to search; he had to feel that he was trying, doing something, but no one realized the uselessness of it more than himself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
well-recommended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, convinced that he could do nothing, that he did not in the least know how to go about the search, he retained a firm of discreet, well-recommended searchers for missing persons.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading There was a chance that a specialist, a professional, might find traces of Ruth where Bonbright's untrained eyes missed them altogether.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was always looking for her, scanned every face in the crowd, looked up at every window.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With that he had to be content.
