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 All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
Arras
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
arrival
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They asked themselves whether he had indeed uttered that cry; they could not believe that that tranquil man had been the one to give that terrible outcry.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
audience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They asked themselves whether he had indeed uttered that cry; they could not believe that that tranquil man had been the one to give that terrible outcry.
buttoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
calm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
carefully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
clerk's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clerk’s lamp illumined his countenance.
clothing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
coat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They asked themselves whether he had indeed uttered that cry; they could not believe that that tranquil man had been the one to give that terrible outcry.
countenance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clerk’s lamp illumined his countenance.
cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They asked themselves whether he had indeed uttered that cry; they could not believe that that tranquil man had been the one to give that terrible outcry.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
disorder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
factnounUS /fækt/
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading It was he, in fact.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They asked themselves whether he had indeed uttered that cry; they could not believe that that tranquil man had been the one to give that terrible outcry.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was he, in fact.
heads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
heart-rending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
hesitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The clerk’s lamp illumined his countenance.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
illumined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clerk’s lamp illumined his countenance.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was he, in fact.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They asked themselves whether he had indeed uttered that cry; they could not believe that that tranquil man had been the one to give that terrible outcry.
indescribableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈskraɪbəbəl/
too intense to describe too intense or unusual to describe clearly
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was he, in fact.
lamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clerk’s lamp illumined his countenance.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
momentary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They asked themselves whether he had indeed uttered that cry; they could not believe that that tranquil man had been the one to give that terrible outcry.
outcry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They asked themselves whether he had indeed uttered that cry; they could not believe that that tranquil man had been the one to give that terrible outcry.
pale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
raised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
sensation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
slightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They asked themselves whether he had indeed uttered that cry; they could not believe that that tranquil man had been the one to give that terrible outcry.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The clerk’s lamp illumined his countenance.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They asked themselves whether he had indeed uttered that cry; they could not believe that that tranquil man had been the one to give that terrible outcry.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They asked themselves whether he had indeed uttered that cry; they could not believe that that tranquil man had been the one to give that terrible outcry.
tranquil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They asked themselves whether he had indeed uttered that cry; they could not believe that that tranquil man had been the one to give that terrible outcry.
trembled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
utterednounUS /ˈuttered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They asked themselves whether he had indeed uttered that cry; they could not believe that that tranquil man had been the one to give that terrible outcry.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was he, in fact.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading They asked themselves whether he had indeed uttered that cry; they could not believe that that tranquil man had been the one to give that terrible outcry.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held his hat in his hand; there was no disorder in his clothing; his coat was carefully buttoned; he was very pale, and he trembled slightly; his hair, which had still been gray on his arrival in Arras, was now entirely white: it had turned white during the hour he had sat there.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading All heads were raised: the sensation was indescribable; there was a momentary hesitation in the audience, the voice had been so heart-rending; the man who stood there appeared so calm that they did not understand at first.
