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 There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
acid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
action
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
all-controlling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
boomingnounUS /ˈbooming/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
cleared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
clears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
cloudy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
emotion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
fierce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He saw himself for the first time in several moments, and what he saw made him shudder.
flung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
force
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was joyous, free, terrible in its force--that wish to slay.
fray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading It was joyous, free, terrible in its force--that wish to slay.
grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
hill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He saw himself for the first time in several moments, and what he saw made him shudder.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
Hollis's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
horse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/
a sudden strong desire to act
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was joyous, free, terrible in its force--that wish to slay.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was joyous, free, terrible in its force--that wish to slay.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
joyous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was joyous, free, terrible in its force--that wish to slay.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw himself for the first time in several moments, and what he saw made him shudder.
mental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
moments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw himself for the first time in several moments, and what he saw made him shudder.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
passion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
Pollard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
precipitate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
profound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
quivering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
riding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
rising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
saddle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw himself for the first time in several moments, and what he saw made him shudder.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw himself for the first time in several moments, and what he saw made him shudder.
shudder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw himself for the first time in several moments, and what he saw made him shudder.
slay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was joyous, free, terrible in its force--that wish to slay.
snap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was joyous, free, terrible in its force--that wish to slay.
Terry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
thread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He saw himself for the first time in several moments, and what he saw made him shudder.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
turning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a profound reason behind the sudden turning of Terry Hollis's horse and his riding down the hill.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For as he sat the saddle, quivering, he felt rising in him an all-controlling impulse that was new to him, a fierce and sudden passion.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He saw himself for the first time in several moments, and what he saw made him shudder.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
wish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was joyous, free, terrible in its force--that wish to slay.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The emotion had grown, held back by the very force of a mental thread of reason, until, at the very moment when the thread was about to fray and snap, and he would be flung into sudden action, the booming voice of Joe Pollard had cleared his mind as an acid clears a cloudy precipitate.
