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 He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
burnverbUS /bɜːrn/
To consume or be consumed by fire.
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
capable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
check
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
companion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
disbeliever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
discovery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
dreams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
effects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
flung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
imaginary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
knuckles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
lamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
lean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
marked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
notice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
palms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
Professor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
shakingnounUS /ˈshaking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
shrivelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
Thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
thumping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
upwards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
utterednounUS /ˈuttered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
