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 The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading (In those days London even in summer was not safe against dark fogs.) And then at the last the Change poured in and overtook them.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If there was any warning at all for them, it must have been a sudden universal tumult in the street, and then a much more universal quiet.
amidstprepositionUS /əˈmɪdst/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If there was any warning at all for them, it must have been a sudden universal tumult in the street, and then a much more universal quiet.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading (In those days London even in summer was not safe against dark fogs.) And then at the last the Change poured in and overtook them.
atmosphere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If there was any warning at all for them, it must have been a sudden universal tumult in the street, and then a much more universal quiet.
catalytic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
Change
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
comet
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From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They could have had no other intimation.
crept
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From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (In those days London even in summer was not safe against dark fogs.) And then at the last the Change poured in and overtook them.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (In those days London even in summer was not safe against dark fogs.) And then at the last the Change poured in and overtook them.
descending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
drifting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
electric
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
exceptional
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
fever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
flashes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
fog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
fogs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (In those days London even in summer was not safe against dark fogs.) And then at the last the Change poured in and overtook them.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If there was any warning at all for them, it must have been a sudden universal tumult in the street, and then a much more universal quiet.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
glarenounUS /glare/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They could have had no other intimation.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If there was any warning at all for them, it must have been a sudden universal tumult in the street, and then a much more universal quiet.
imperceptibly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
intimation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They could have had no other intimation.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If there was any warning at all for them, it must have been a sudden universal tumult in the street, and then a much more universal quiet.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading (In those days London even in summer was not safe against dark fogs.) And then at the last the Change poured in and overtook them.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If there was any warning at all for them, it must have been a sudden universal tumult in the street, and then a much more universal quiet.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
nocturnal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
noise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading (In those days London even in summer was not safe against dark fogs.) And then at the last the Change poured in and overtook them.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They could have had no other intimation.
overtook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (In those days London even in summer was not safe against dark fogs.) And then at the last the Change poured in and overtook them.
particularly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
poured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (In those days London even in summer was not safe against dark fogs.) And then at the last the Change poured in and overtook them.
preliminary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If there was any warning at all for them, it must have been a sudden universal tumult in the street, and then a much more universal quiet.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
safe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (In those days London even in summer was not safe against dark fogs.) And then at the last the Change poured in and overtook them.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
shouting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If there was any warning at all for them, it must have been a sudden universal tumult in the street, and then a much more universal quiet.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If there was any warning at all for them, it must have been a sudden universal tumult in the street, and then a much more universal quiet.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (In those days London even in summer was not safe against dark fogs.) And then at the last the Change poured in and overtook them.
swing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading (In those days London even in summer was not safe against dark fogs.) And then at the last the Change poured in and overtook them.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (In those days London even in summer was not safe against dark fogs.) And then at the last the Change poured in and overtook them.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They could have had no other intimation.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading (In those days London even in summer was not safe against dark fogs.) And then at the last the Change poured in and overtook them.
trails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
tumult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If there was any warning at all for them, it must have been a sudden universal tumult in the street, and then a much more universal quiet.
universal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If there was any warning at all for them, it must have been a sudden universal tumult in the street, and then a much more universal quiet.
unobserved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
unseasonable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
vapor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
Very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
warning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If there was any warning at all for them, it must have been a sudden universal tumult in the street, and then a much more universal quiet.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading (In those days London even in summer was not safe against dark fogs.) And then at the last the Change poured in and overtook them.
wave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
wisps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very probably the Change crept into the office imperceptibly, amidst the noise and shouting, and the glare of electric light that made the night atmosphere in that place; even the green flashes may have passed unobserved there, the preliminary descending trails of green vapor seemed no more than unseasonable drifting wisps of London fog.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The catalytic wave must have caught the place in full swing, in its nocturnal high fever, indeed in a quite exceptional state of fever, what with the comet and the war, and more particularly with the war.
