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 I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
ACQUAINTANCE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
arranged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
barest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had burned up fairly bright, and showed me the barest room I think I ever put my eyes on.
beer
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From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
BesidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/
in addition to; as well as
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
bolts
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From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
bowl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had burned up fairly bright, and showed me the barest room I think I ever put my eyes on.
burned
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From this reading The fire had burned up fairly bright, and showed me the barest room I think I ever put my eyes on.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
cautiously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
chains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
chamber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
chests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
cup
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
cupboard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
defences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
dishes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The fire had burned up fairly bright, and showed me the barest room I think I ever put my eyes on.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had burned up fairly bright, and showed me the barest room I think I ever put my eyes on.
fairly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had burned up fairly bright, and showed me the barest room I think I ever put my eyes on.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had burned up fairly bright, and showed me the barest room I think I ever put my eyes on.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
Go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
groped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
Half-a-dozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
horn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
kitchen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
lock-fast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
MAKEnounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
MYdeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
naething
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
named
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The fire had burned up fairly bright, and showed me the barest room I think I ever put my eyes on.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
padlock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
porridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
Presently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had burned up fairly bright, and showed me the barest room I think I ever put my eyes on.
rattling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
replacing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had burned up fairly bright, and showed me the barest room I think I ever put my eyes on.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
shelvesnounUS /ʃelvz/
Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.
From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had burned up fairly bright, and showed me the barest room I think I ever put my eyes on.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
spoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
stone-vaulted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
supper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The fire had burned up fairly bright, and showed me the barest room I think I ever put my eyes on.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
touch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
UNCLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire had burned up fairly bright, and showed me the barest room I think I ever put my eyes on.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts, and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Besides what I have named, there was not another thing in that great, stone-vaulted, empty chamber but lock-fast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading “Go into the kitchen and touch naething,” said the voice; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door, I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge, a horn spoon, and a cup of small beer.
