Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
advance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
audibly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
beclouded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
brain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
dim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
doubt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
drewnounUS /drew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old lady’s eyes met ours without purpose or intelligence.
faded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
faint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
fall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
flicker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
footsteps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
forgot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she was quite gone, Mr. Steele spoke:
gradually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
hover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
intelligence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old lady’s eyes met ours without purpose or intelligence.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
lady's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old lady’s eyes met ours without purpose or intelligence.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old lady’s eyes met ours without purpose or intelligence.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old lady’s eyes met ours without purpose or intelligence.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The old lady’s eyes met ours without purpose or intelligence.
ourspronounUS /ˈaʊərz/
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading The old lady’s eyes met ours without purpose or intelligence.
panted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
passagenounUS /ˈpassage/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
plain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
purpose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old lady’s eyes met ours without purpose or intelligence.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When she was quite gone, Mr. Steele spoke:
receding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she was quite gone, Mr. Steele spoke:
Steele
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The old lady’s eyes met ours without purpose or intelligence.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was plain that she did not see us; also plain that she was held back in her advance by some doubt in her beclouded brain.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When she was quite gone, Mr. Steele spoke:
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then gradually she drew back and disappeared behind the door, which she forgot to shut, as we could tell from the gradually receding light and the faint fall of her footsteps after the last dim flicker had faded away.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading We could see her hover, as it were, at her end of the dark passage, while I held my breath and Mr. Steele panted audibly.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The old lady’s eyes met ours without purpose or intelligence.
