Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
afraid
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From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But who can tell what is to happen within twenty-four hours?
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading But who can tell what is to happen within twenty-four hours?
carried
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From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
corridor
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From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
covers
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From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
Derwent
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From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
dispatch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
distressedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrɛst/
suffering from pain, danger, or serious difficulty
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
dressing-room
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From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
evil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
face
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From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
fears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
happen
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From this reading But who can tell what is to happen within twenty-four hours?
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
hearts
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From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
hide
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From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
hieroglyphics
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But who can tell what is to happen within twenty-four hours?
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But who can tell what is to happen within twenty-four hours?
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
lingering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What is the matter?”
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
ominous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
proclaimed
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From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
sorrowful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
startling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been half afraid to bring it into me, but he did not hide either the startling hieroglyphics which proclaimed the nature of the dispatch, nor his own distressed and sorrowful face.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But who can tell what is to happen within twenty-four hours?
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
thrill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
tidings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But who can tell what is to happen within twenty-four hours?
twenty-four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But who can tell what is to happen within twenty-four hours?
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But who can tell what is to happen within twenty-four hours?
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When I left my dressing-room next morning, I found Derwent lingering in the corridor outside, waiting for me.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading But who can tell what is to happen within twenty-four hours?
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He carried in his hand one of those ominous covers which thrill the hearts of private people with fears of evil tidings.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading But who can tell what is to happen within twenty-four hours?
