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 Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Some said one thing, some another, and some only groaned and hissed.
answer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
appeared
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From this reading Before they had repeated their summons many times, a man appeared upon the roof of the governor’s house, and asked what it was they wanted.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Before they had repeated their summons many times, a man appeared upon the roof of the governor’s house, and asked what it was they wanted.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
aware
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
barricaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
Breaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
clamour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
concourse
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From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
demanded
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From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
diffused
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From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
frontedverbUS /ˈfrʌntɪd/
stood facing someone or something
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
governor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
governor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before they had repeated their summons many times, a man appeared upon the roof of the governor’s house, and asked what it was they wanted.
gradually
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From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
grating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
groaned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some said one thing, some another, and some only groaned and hissed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
hissed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some said one thing, some another, and some only groaned and hissed.
hitherto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
intelligence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Before they had repeated their summons many times, a man appeared upon the roof of the governor’s house, and asked what it was they wanted.
jail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
loopholenounUS /ˈloophole/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before they had repeated their summons many times, a man appeared upon the roof of the governor’s house, and asked what it was they wanted.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before they had repeated their summons many times, a man appeared upon the roof of the governor’s house, and asked what it was they wanted.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Some said one thing, some another, and some only groaned and hissed.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some said one thing, some another, and some only groaned and hissed.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
preserved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
prison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
raised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
ranged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
repeatednounUS /repeated/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Before they had repeated their summons many times, a man appeared upon the roof of the governor’s house, and asked what it was they wanted.
roof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before they had repeated their summons many times, a man appeared upon the roof of the governor’s house, and asked what it was they wanted.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some said one thing, some another, and some only groaned and hissed.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
Some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some said one thing, some another, and some only groaned and hissed.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
strongly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
an official order to appear or respond
From this reading Before they had repeated their summons many times, a man appeared upon the roof of the governor’s house, and asked what it was they wanted.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Before they had repeated their summons many times, a man appeared upon the roof of the governor’s house, and asked what it was they wanted.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Some said one thing, some another, and some only groaned and hissed.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
throng
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before they had repeated their summons many times, a man appeared upon the roof of the governor’s house, and asked what it was they wanted.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
unexpected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Before they had repeated their summons many times, a man appeared upon the roof of the governor’s house, and asked what it was they wanted.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before they had repeated their summons many times, a man appeared upon the roof of the governor’s house, and asked what it was they wanted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Breaking the silence they had hitherto preserved, they raised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the jail, and demanded to speak to the governor.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Before they had repeated their summons many times, a man appeared upon the roof of the governor’s house, and asked what it was they wanted.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It being now nearly dark, and the house high, many persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to answer them, and continued their clamour until the intelligence was gradually diffused through the whole concourse.
wholly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
wicket-gate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This visit was not wholly unexpected, for his house, which fronted the street, was strongly barricaded, the wicket-gate of the prison was closed up, and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen.
