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 But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
Abiram
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From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
accused
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From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
All
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From this reading All search for the escaped criminal proved vain.
amateur
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From this reading Apparently, he had noted the departure of the amateur guards from their post below the window, and had seized the chance of getting away unobserved.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
Apparently
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From this reading Apparently, he had noted the departure of the amateur guards from their post below the window, and had seized the chance of getting away unobserved.
appeared
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From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently, he had noted the departure of the amateur guards from their post below the window, and had seized the chance of getting away unobserved.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Apparently, he had noted the departure of the amateur guards from their post below the window, and had seized the chance of getting away unobserved.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
Certainly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
chance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently, he had noted the departure of the amateur guards from their post below the window, and had seized the chance of getting away unobserved.
completely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
criminal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All search for the escaped criminal proved vain.
Dathan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
departure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently, he had noted the departure of the amateur guards from their post below the window, and had seized the chance of getting away unobserved.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
escaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All search for the escaped criminal proved vain.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
fall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
fashion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
fogs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading All search for the escaped criminal proved vain.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Apparently, he had noted the departure of the amateur guards from their post below the window, and had seized the chance of getting away unobserved.
gallows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
getting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently, he had noted the departure of the amateur guards from their post below the window, and had seized the chance of getting away unobserved.
guards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently, he had noted the departure of the amateur guards from their post below the window, and had seized the chance of getting away unobserved.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Apparently, he had noted the departure of the amateur guards from their post below the window, and had seized the chance of getting away unobserved.
Herries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
judicial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
Korah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
marsh-land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
merciful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
missing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
neighbourhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
noted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently, he had noted the departure of the amateur guards from their post below the window, and had seized the chance of getting away unobserved.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently, he had noted the departure of the amateur guards from their post below the window, and had seized the chance of getting away unobserved.
proved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All search for the escaped criminal proved vain.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
risk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
search
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All search for the escaped criminal proved vain.
seized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently, he had noted the departure of the amateur guards from their post below the window, and had seized the chance of getting away unobserved.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
stifling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
swallowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All search for the escaped criminal proved vain.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Apparently, he had noted the departure of the amateur guards from their post below the window, and had seized the chance of getting away unobserved.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
treacherous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
unobserved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently, he had noted the departure of the amateur guards from their post below the window, and had seized the chance of getting away unobserved.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
vain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All search for the escaped criminal proved vain.
vanished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Herries had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed him up, after the fashion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it was better--at least the accused man appeared to have thought so--to risk even so stifling a death, rather than face the more judicial and merciful one of the gallows.
water-hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly he did not know the neighbourhood and, in that treacherous marsh-land, ran every chance of missing his way in the fogs, to fall into some water-hole.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently, he had noted the departure of the amateur guards from their post below the window, and had seized the chance of getting away unobserved.
