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 It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
approached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE Phantom slowly, gravely, silently, approached.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.
bent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading He felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him, and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
concealed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
detach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.
difficult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
dread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him, and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him, and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread.
figure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him, and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
form
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.
garment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
gloom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
gravely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE Phantom slowly, gravely, silently, approached.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him, and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
knee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
difficult to explain or understand
From this reading He felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him, and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread.
mystery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
outstretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
PhantomnounUS /ˈfæn.təm/
A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.
From this reading THE Phantom slowly, gravely, silently, approached.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him, and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
scatter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
Scrooge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
separate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.
shrouded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
silently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE Phantom slowly, gravely, silently, approached.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE Phantom slowly, gravely, silently, approached.
solemn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him, and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread.
Spirit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
stately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him, and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread.
surrounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.
tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him, and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him, and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE Phantom slowly, gravely, silently, approached.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
visible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him, and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.
