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 The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
ages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
bewilderednounUS /bewildered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
bitterlyadverbUS /ˈbɪtərli/
in a way that shows deep pain or grief
From this reading The King chafed bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty, but Hendon was moody and taciturn.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The King chafed bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty, but Hendon was moody and taciturn.
cells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
chafed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The King chafed bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty, but Hendon was moody and taciturn.
chained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
charged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
commonly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
company
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The promise and the fulfilment differed so widely that the effect was stunning; he could not decide whether it was most tragic or most grotesque.
crowded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
decide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The promise and the fulfilment differed so widely that the effect was stunning; he could not decide whether it was most tragic or most grotesque.
differed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The promise and the fulfilment differed so widely that the effect was stunning; he could not decide whether it was most tragic or most grotesque.
effect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The promise and the fulfilment differed so widely that the effect was stunning; he could not decide whether it was most tragic or most grotesque.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
expectingverbUS /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/
thinking that somebody or something will arrive
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
fettered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
fulfilment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The promise and the fulfilment differed so widely that the effect was stunning; he could not decide whether it was most tragic or most grotesque.
gang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
grotesque
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The promise and the fulfilment differed so widely that the effect was stunning; he could not decide whether it was most tragic or most grotesque.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
Hendon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The King chafed bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty, but Hendon was moody and taciturn.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The King chafed bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty, but Hendon was moody and taciturn.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
indignity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The King chafed bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty, but Hendon was moody and taciturn.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The promise and the fulfilment differed so widely that the effect was stunning; he could not decide whether it was most tragic or most grotesque.
jail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
joy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
jubilant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
King
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The King chafed bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty, but Hendon was moody and taciturn.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
manacled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
moody
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The King chafed bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty, but Hendon was moody and taciturn.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The promise and the fulfilment differed so widely that the effect was stunning; he could not decide whether it was most tragic or most grotesque.
noisy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The promise and the fulfilment differed so widely that the effect was stunning; he could not decide whether it was most tragic or most grotesque.
obscene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
offences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The promise and the fulfilment differed so widely that the effect was stunning; he could not decide whether it was most tragic or most grotesque.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The King chafed bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty, but Hendon was moody and taciturn.
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
prisoners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
prodigal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
promise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The promise and the fulfilment differed so widely that the effect was stunning; he could not decide whether it was most tragic or most grotesque.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The King chafed bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty, but Hendon was moody and taciturn.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
royalty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The King chafed bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty, but Hendon was moody and taciturn.
sexes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
shoulder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
stunning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The promise and the fulfilment differed so widely that the effect was stunning; he could not decide whether it was most tragic or most grotesque.
stupendous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The King chafed bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty, but Hendon was moody and taciturn.
taciturn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The King chafed bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty, but Hendon was moody and taciturn.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The promise and the fulfilment differed so widely that the effect was stunning; he could not decide whether it was most tragic or most grotesque.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
thoroughly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The King chafed bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty, but Hendon was moody and taciturn.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
tragic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The promise and the fulfilment differed so widely that the effect was stunning; he could not decide whether it was most tragic or most grotesque.
trifling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The King chafed bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty, but Hendon was moody and taciturn.
varying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had company, for there were some twenty manacled and fettered prisoners here, of both sexes and of varying ages,--an obscene and noisy gang.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The King chafed bitterly over the stupendous indignity thus put upon his royalty, but Hendon was moody and taciturn.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading The promise and the fulfilment differed so widely that the effect was stunning; he could not decide whether it was most tragic or most grotesque.
widely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The promise and the fulfilment differed so widely that the effect was stunning; he could not decide whether it was most tragic or most grotesque.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was pretty thoroughly bewildered; he had come home, a jubilant prodigal, expecting to find everybody wild with joy over his return; and instead had got the cold shoulder and a jail.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large room where persons charged with trifling offences were commonly kept.
