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 thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
approached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two of the Brothers approached and took him gently by the arm.
arm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two of the Brothers approached and took him gently by the arm.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
Brothers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two of the Brothers approached and took him gently by the arm.
building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Two of the Brothers approached and took him gently by the arm.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he knew now what was coming.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He stood still and did nothing.
dissuaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
effort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
emptiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
figures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
gently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two of the Brothers approached and took him gently by the arm.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
knees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he knew now what was coming.
lips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
loneliness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He stood still and did nothing.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he knew now what was coming.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
remembering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
row
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
screamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
situation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He stood still and did nothing.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Two of the Brothers approached and took him gently by the arm.
trembling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
Two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two of the Brothers approached and took him gently by the arm.
understood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But he knew now what was coming.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
weaknessnounUS /ˈwiːknəs/
a lack of physical strength
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But he knew now what was coming.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of making a wild effort to reach the door, but the weakness of his trembling knees, and the row of black figures that stood between, dissuaded him at once.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would have screamed for help, but remembering the emptiness of the vast building, and the loneliness of the situation, he understood that no help could come that way, and he kept his lips closed.
