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 first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
Aylward's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
Babel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
bailey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five paces of where he lay a narrow and little-used door led out into the bailey.
barrier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
casting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
clutching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
comradesnounUS /ˈkɑːmrædz/
people who share difficult work or danger, especially soldiers
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
corridors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the guidance of the French squire the party passed down two narrow corridors.
criednounUS /cried/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five paces of where he lay a narrow and little-used door led out into the bailey.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the guidance of the French squire the party passed down two narrow corridors.
Du
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five paces of where he lay a narrow and little-used door led out into the bailey.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
frail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
French
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the guidance of the French squire the party passed down two narrow corridors.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
Guesclin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
guidance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the guidance of the French squire the party passed down two narrow corridors.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
harp-string
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Within five paces of where he lay a narrow and little-used door led out into the bailey.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
hooting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
horrible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Within five paces of where he lay a narrow and little-used door led out into the bailey.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
laughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five paces of where he lay a narrow and little-used door led out into the bailey.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five paces of where he lay a narrow and little-used door led out into the bailey.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
limbs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
little-used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five paces of where he lay a narrow and little-used door led out into the bailey.
loudly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the guidance of the French squire the party passed down two narrow corridors.
oaths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Under the guidance of the French squire the party passed down two narrow corridors.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five paces of where he lay a narrow and little-used door led out into the bailey.
paces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five paces of where he lay a narrow and little-used door led out into the bailey.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Under the guidance of the French squire the party passed down two narrow corridors.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Under the guidance of the French squire the party passed down two narrow corridors.
peasant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
run
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
screaming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
sentry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
shrunk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
squire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the guidance of the French squire the party passed down two narrow corridors.
started
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
Stop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
stoutest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Under the guidance of the French squire the party passed down two narrow corridors.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
twanged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
twitching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the guidance of the French squire the party passed down two narrow corridors.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under the guidance of the French squire the party passed down two narrow corridors.
undone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
war-bow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Within five paces of where he lay a narrow and little-used door led out into the bailey.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Stop him, or we are undone!” cried Du Guesclin, and had started to run, when Aylward's great war-bow twanged like a harp-string, and the man fell forward upon his face, with twitching limbs and clutching fingers.
WithinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Within five paces of where he lay a narrow and little-used door led out into the bailey.
yelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was empty, but at the head of the second stood a peasant sentry, who started off at the sight of them, yelling loudly to his comrades.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading From beyond it came such a Babel of hooting and screaming, horrible oaths and yet more horrible laughter, that the stoutest heart might have shrunk from casting down the frail barrier which faced them.
