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 It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
Albatross
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading And it was at this speed, the greatest that could be given to her, that the “Albatross” tore along.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But any attempt to have done so would have been simply committing suicide.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And it was at this speed, the greatest that could be given to her, that the “Albatross” tore along.
attempt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But any attempt to have done so would have been simply committing suicide.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But any attempt to have done so would have been simply committing suicide.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But any attempt to have done so would have been simply committing suicide.
committing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But any attempt to have done so would have been simply committing suicide.
considered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And it was at this speed, the greatest that could be given to her, that the “Albatross” tore along.
crossing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
despaired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
difficult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But any attempt to have done so would have been simply committing suicide.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
escaping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
Europe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
Evans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/
to show or communicate a feeling or idea
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was at this speed, the greatest that could be given to her, that the “Albatross” tore along.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
greatest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was at this speed, the greatest that could be given to her, that the “Albatross” tore along.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But any attempt to have done so would have been simply committing suicide.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And it was at this speed, the greatest that could be given to her, that the “Albatross” tore along.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
jump
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
machine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
miles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
minds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
prisoners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
Prudent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
risk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
Robur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
seek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But any attempt to have done so would have been simply committing suicide.
sixty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But any attempt to have done so would have been simply committing suicide.
speed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was at this speed, the greatest that could be given to her, that the “Albatross” tore along.
suicide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But any attempt to have done so would have been simply committing suicide.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And it was at this speed, the greatest that could be given to her, that the “Albatross” tore along.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
tore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was at this speed, the greatest that could be given to her, that the “Albatross” tore along.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If ever Prudent and Evans despaired on escaping from the “Albatross” it was during the two days that followed.
watch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It may be that Robur considered it more difficult to keep a watch on his prisoners while he was crossing Europe, and he knew that they had made up their minds to get away.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But any attempt to have done so would have been simply committing suicide.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading To jump from an express going sixty miles an hour is to risk your life, but to jump from a machine going one hundred and twenty miles an hour would be to seek your death.
