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 ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
ACROSSprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
actual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our map showed a canal bordering the frontier itself, and it was along this canal that we anticipated having to avoid the line of actual frontier watchers.
advancing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
afterwards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Our map showed a canal bordering the frontier itself, and it was along this canal that we anticipated having to avoid the line of actual frontier watchers.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
anticipated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our map showed a canal bordering the frontier itself, and it was along this canal that we anticipated having to avoid the line of actual frontier watchers.
anxiety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This anxiety on our part was now the cause of our making an appalling error, which nearly ended disastrously for us both.
anxious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
appalling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This anxiety on our part was now the cause of our making an appalling error, which nearly ended disastrously for us both.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
avoid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our map showed a canal bordering the frontier itself, and it was along this canal that we anticipated having to avoid the line of actual frontier watchers.
bank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
bordering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our map showed a canal bordering the frontier itself, and it was along this canal that we anticipated having to avoid the line of actual frontier watchers.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading This anxiety on our part was now the cause of our making an appalling error, which nearly ended disastrously for us both.
canal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our map showed a canal bordering the frontier itself, and it was along this canal that we anticipated having to avoid the line of actual frontier watchers.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
cause
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This anxiety on our part was now the cause of our making an appalling error, which nearly ended disastrously for us both.
cross
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
define
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
desperately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
disastrously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This anxiety on our part was now the cause of our making an appalling error, which nearly ended disastrously for us both.
DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
ended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This anxiety on our part was now the cause of our making an appalling error, which nearly ended disastrously for us both.
error
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This anxiety on our part was now the cause of our making an appalling error, which nearly ended disastrously for us both.
escaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
flat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
FRONTIER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
German
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
half-hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Our map showed a canal bordering the frontier itself, and it was along this canal that we anticipated having to avoid the line of actual frontier watchers.
hiding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Our map showed a canal bordering the frontier itself, and it was along this canal that we anticipated having to avoid the line of actual frontier watchers.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Our map showed a canal bordering the frontier itself, and it was along this canal that we anticipated having to avoid the line of actual frontier watchers.
lie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our map showed a canal bordering the frontier itself, and it was along this canal that we anticipated having to avoid the line of actual frontier watchers.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This anxiety on our part was now the cause of our making an appalling error, which nearly ended disastrously for us both.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
map
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our map showed a canal bordering the frontier itself, and it was along this canal that we anticipated having to avoid the line of actual frontier watchers.
march
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
mile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
moor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This anxiety on our part was now the cause of our making an appalling error, which nearly ended disastrously for us both.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This anxiety on our part was now the cause of our making an appalling error, which nearly ended disastrously for us both.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This anxiety on our part was now the cause of our making an appalling error, which nearly ended disastrously for us both.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This anxiety on our part was now the cause of our making an appalling error, which nearly ended disastrously for us both.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
practically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
prisoners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
rapid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
shortly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our map showed a canal bordering the frontier itself, and it was along this canal that we anticipated having to avoid the line of actual frontier watchers.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
soldiers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
spread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Our map showed a canal bordering the frontier itself, and it was along this canal that we anticipated having to avoid the line of actual frontier watchers.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Our map showed a canal bordering the frontier itself, and it was along this canal that we anticipated having to avoid the line of actual frontier watchers.
thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
unfortunate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Our map showed a canal bordering the frontier itself, and it was along this canal that we anticipated having to avoid the line of actual frontier watchers.
watchers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our map showed a canal bordering the frontier itself, and it was along this canal that we anticipated having to avoid the line of actual frontier watchers.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACROSS THE FRONTIER During our rapid march we passed a few houses, and shortly afterwards began to cross an open moor which spread flat and wide in front of us.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading We were desperately anxious to make the frontier line within the next half-hour, in order to avoid having to lie waiting for the next night within a mile or so of it, as so many unfortunate escaped prisoners have been caught while hiding near the frontier itself.
yards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When within a mile of a line of trees, which we decided must be along the canal bank and must practically define the frontier line, we suddenly saw two German soldiers advancing some thousand yards in front of us.
