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 Lucy knelt beside her, her shoulder resting against a pile of cordage.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Lucy knelt beside her, her shoulder resting against a pile of cordage.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shock of Archie's death had robbed her of all her strength.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
Archie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
Archie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shock of Archie's death had robbed her of all her strength.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Jane's head was close to the boy's chest, her sobs coming from between her hands, held before her face.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading Lucy knelt beside her, her shoulder resting against a pile of cordage.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Jane's head was close to the boy's chest, her sobs coming from between her hands, held before her face.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
boy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jane's head was close to the boy's chest, her sobs coming from between her hands, held before her face.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
chest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jane's head was close to the boy's chest, her sobs coming from between her hands, held before her face.
CLAW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
close
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jane's head was close to the boy's chest, her sobs coming from between her hands, held before her face.
closing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jane's head was close to the boy's chest, her sobs coming from between her hands, held before her face.
cordage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucy knelt beside her, her shoulder resting against a pile of cordage.
crowd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shock of Archie's death had robbed her of all her strength.
doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jane's head was close to the boy's chest, her sobs coming from between her hands, held before her face.
form
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
glarenounUS /glare/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The shock of Archie's death had robbed her of all her strength.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading Jane's head was close to the boy's chest, her sobs coming from between her hands, held before her face.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jane's head was close to the boy's chest, her sobs coming from between her hands, held before her face.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jane's head was close to the boy's chest, her sobs coming from between her hands, held before her face.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Jane's head was close to the boy's chest, her sobs coming from between her hands, held before her face.
House
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
Jane's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jane's head was close to the boy's chest, her sobs coming from between her hands, held before her face.
knelt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucy knelt beside her, her shoulder resting against a pile of cordage.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
Lucy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucy knelt beside her, her shoulder resting against a pile of cordage.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
murmur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
pile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucy knelt beside her, her shoulder resting against a pile of cordage.
Refuge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
restingnounUS /ˈresting/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Lucy knelt beside her, her shoulder resting against a pile of cordage.
robbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shock of Archie's death had robbed her of all her strength.
SEA-PUSS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
shock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shock of Archie's death had robbed her of all her strength.
shoulder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucy knelt beside her, her shoulder resting against a pile of cordage.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
sobs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jane's head was close to the boy's chest, her sobs coming from between her hands, held before her face.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The shock of Archie's death had robbed her of all her strength.
suffering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
thrash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jane's head was close to the boy's chest, her sobs coming from between her hands, held before her face.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Jane's head was close to the boy's chest, her sobs coming from between her hands, held before her face.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only light in the House of Refuge now came from the two small windows, one above the form of the suffering man and the other behind the dead body of Archie.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS With the closing of the doors the murmur of the crowd, the dull glare of the gray sky, and the thrash of the wind were shut out.
