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 They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
advanced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was with a vehement effort that at last she spoke.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
barrier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
effort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was with a vehement effort that at last she spoke.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading NO PLACE FOR REPENTANCE.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
invisible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was with a vehement effort that at last she spoke.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was with a vehement effort that at last she spoke.
leaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
limbs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
moments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
needed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
NOdeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading NO PLACE FOR REPENTANCE.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
paused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
Phebe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
PLACE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NO PLACE FOR REPENTANCE.
REPENTANCE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NO PLACE FOR REPENTANCE.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
shrunk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was with a vehement effort that at last she spoke.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
stranger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
supportverbUS /səˈpɔːrt/
to provide what someone needs in order to live
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was with a vehement effort that at last she spoke.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
threshold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
trembling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
vehement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was with a vehement effort that at last she spoke.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was with a vehement effort that at last she spoke.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.