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 At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
blow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So paralysed with fright was she, indeed, that she shut her eyes, flinching under the expected blow.
brandish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
CHRIS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RICHARD SURPRISES CHRIS.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So paralysed with fright was she, indeed, that she shut her eyes, flinching under the expected blow.
finding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
flinching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So paralysed with fright was she, indeed, that she shut her eyes, flinching under the expected blow.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmɪdəbəl/
very difficult to deal with or overcome
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
fright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So paralysed with fright was she, indeed, that she shut her eyes, flinching under the expected blow.
fully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/
a sudden strong desire to act
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So paralysed with fright was she, indeed, that she shut her eyes, flinching under the expected blow.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
leg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
madman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
MR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MR.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
paralysed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So paralysed with fright was she, indeed, that she shut her eyes, flinching under the expected blow.
provided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
RICHARD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RICHARD SURPRISES CHRIS.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So paralysed with fright was she, indeed, that she shut her eyes, flinching under the expected blow.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So paralysed with fright was she, indeed, that she shut her eyes, flinching under the expected blow.
SURPRISES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RICHARD SURPRISES CHRIS.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
terror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So paralysed with fright was she, indeed, that she shut her eyes, flinching under the expected blow.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading So paralysed with fright was she, indeed, that she shut her eyes, flinching under the expected blow.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He did not, however, brandish it in the air, and then bring it down upon her head, as, in the first impulse of terror, she had fully expected.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So paralysed with fright was she, indeed, that she shut her eyes, flinching under the expected blow.
weapon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading At the first moment of finding herself alone with the madman, Chris gave herself up for lost; for he carried in his hand a formidable weapon--the table leg with which he had provided himself before leaving his rooms.
