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 For a second Legge was paralysed with rage and fear.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He heard an exclamation, felt for a second the fingers relax; and, slipping like an eel from the grasp, flew to the door and closed it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For a second Legge was paralysed with rage and fear.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
breathless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard an exclamation, felt for a second the fingers relax; and, slipping like an eel from the grasp, flew to the door and closed it.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
despair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard an exclamation, felt for a second the fingers relax; and, slipping like an eel from the grasp, flew to the door and closed it.
doorway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
eel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard an exclamation, felt for a second the fingers relax; and, slipping like an eel from the grasp, flew to the door and closed it.
exclamation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard an exclamation, felt for a second the fingers relax; and, slipping like an eel from the grasp, flew to the door and closed it.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a second Legge was paralysed with rage and fear.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard an exclamation, felt for a second the fingers relax; and, slipping like an eel from the grasp, flew to the door and closed it.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard an exclamation, felt for a second the fingers relax; and, slipping like an eel from the grasp, flew to the door and closed it.
flash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
flew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard an exclamation, felt for a second the fingers relax; and, slipping like an eel from the grasp, flew to the door and closed it.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a second Legge was paralysed with rage and fear.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
graspnounUS /ɡræsp/
a firm hold in a specific situation in this story
From this reading He heard an exclamation, felt for a second the fingers relax; and, slipping like an eel from the grasp, flew to the door and closed it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard an exclamation, felt for a second the fingers relax; and, slipping like an eel from the grasp, flew to the door and closed it.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
holding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
inner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He heard an exclamation, felt for a second the fingers relax; and, slipping like an eel from the grasp, flew to the door and closed it.
Johnny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
key
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
keyhole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
kicked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
Legge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a second Legge was paralysed with rage and fear.
lightning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard an exclamation, felt for a second the fingers relax; and, slipping like an eel from the grasp, flew to the door and closed it.
lock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
panting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
paralysed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a second Legge was paralysed with rage and fear.
pass-key
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
pushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
Quick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
rage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a second Legge was paralysed with rage and fear.
realised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
relax
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard an exclamation, felt for a second the fingers relax; and, slipping like an eel from the grasp, flew to the door and closed it.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a second Legge was paralysed with rage and fear.
secured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
slightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
slipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
slipping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard an exclamation, felt for a second the fingers relax; and, slipping like an eel from the grasp, flew to the door and closed it.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
steel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He heard an exclamation, felt for a second the fingers relax; and, slipping like an eel from the grasp, flew to the door and closed it.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quick as lightning, he slipped his own key back into the lock and turned it slightly, so that it could not be pushed out from the other side.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He stood, breathless and panting, by the doorway, until he heard the sound of steel against the inner keyhole, and in a flash realised that Johnny had secured the pass-key.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For a second Legge was paralysed with rage and fear.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
wildness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, in the wildness of his despair, he kicked at the man, who had slipped from the bed and was holding him.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading For a second Legge was paralysed with rage and fear.
