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 Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
accustomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
constrained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
crossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
deeper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
disappear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
DRIVEN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRIVEN TO THE WALL.
errand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
evidence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
fireless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
frightened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
gloomy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
grate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
halt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
intense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
intervals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
interview
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
intrude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
mental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
difficult to explain or understand
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
pleasantnounUS /pleasant/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
rested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
rug
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
sad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
saturnine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
scrutiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
sorrowful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
stare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
staring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
suffering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
Tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
terror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DRIVEN TO THE WALL.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be a private interview, and then he would disappear, leaving behind him a gloomy shadow--her mother’s face sad and sorrowful, her manner constrained, and the evidence of intense mental suffering.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
threshold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading DRIVEN TO THE WALL.
unexpectedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
WALL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRIVEN TO THE WALL.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Tall, dark, saturnine, he was not a pleasant person to look at as he came to a halt upon the rug before the fireless grate and stood staring into her frightened face with eyes full of cold scrutiny.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her eyes rested upon his face with a wild stare of terror, which grew deeper and more intense as he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For years she had been accustomed to see this man at long intervals, when he would suddenly and unexpectedly intrude upon her mother with some mysterious errand.
