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 The man had darted off down a narrow turning which had led into a maze of streets.
abandoning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Doctor, abandoning any idea of chasing and securing him, lost not a moment in doing what he could.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
AlreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Doctor, abandoning any idea of chasing and securing him, lost not a moment in doing what he could.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Doctor, abandoning any idea of chasing and securing him, lost not a moment in doing what he could.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
assured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
balancenounUS /ˈbalance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
bricks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
Brudenell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
busy
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From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
ceased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
chasing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Doctor, abandoning any idea of chasing and securing him, lost not a moment in doing what he could.
confusion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The Doctor, abandoning any idea of chasing and securing him, lost not a moment in doing what he could.
darted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man had darted off down a narrow turning which had led into a maze of streets.
DoctornounUS /doctor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Doctor, abandoning any idea of chasing and securing him, lost not a moment in doing what he could.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man had darted off down a narrow turning which had led into a maze of streets.
echo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
flung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
foot-passengers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
footsteps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
futile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
glance
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From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
gravel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The man had darted off down a narrow turning which had led into a maze of streets.
half-finished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Doctor, abandoning any idea of chasing and securing him, lost not a moment in doing what he could.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The man had darted off down a narrow turning which had led into a maze of streets.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man had darted off down a narrow turning which had led into a maze of streets.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man had darted off down a narrow turning which had led into a maze of streets.
maze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man had darted off down a narrow turning which had led into a maze of streets.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Doctor, abandoning any idea of chasing and securing him, lost not a moment in doing what he could.
mortar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man had darted off down a narrow turning which had led into a maze of streets.
neglected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Doctor, abandoning any idea of chasing and securing him, lost not a moment in doing what he could.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The man had darted off down a narrow turning which had led into a maze of streets.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man had darted off down a narrow turning which had led into a maze of streets.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
pavement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
pursuit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
rapid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
recovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
restless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
row
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
Saturday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
securing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Doctor, abandoning any idea of chasing and securing him, lost not a moment in doing what he could.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man had darted off down a narrow turning which had led into a maze of streets.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The man had darted off down a narrow turning which had led into a maze of streets.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
throng
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
turning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man had darted off down a narrow turning which had led into a maze of streets.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Already his rapid footsteps had ceased to echo on the pavement; he was lost by this time in the busy restless throng of Saturday night foot-passengers.
wastenounUS /weɪst/
an empty, uncultivated area of land
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The Doctor, abandoning any idea of chasing and securing him, lost not a moment in doing what he could.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The short street was a new one, having on one side a neglected piece of waste land, where bricks, gravel, and mortar were flung in confusion; upon the other a row of half-finished houses.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The man had darted off down a narrow turning which had led into a maze of streets.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Doctor Brudenell's first rapid glance about him as he recovered his balance assured him that pursuit would be futile.
