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 I HAVE witnessed a horrible scene to-day.
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through Bicêtre rang the sound of mirth, and dance, and song.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was bright daylight, and the prison was full of unaccustomed noise.
answering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
Bicêtre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through Bicêtre rang the sound of mirth, and dance, and song.
bolts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
bright
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From this reading It was bright daylight, and the prison was full of unaccustomed noise.
calling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
cells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My neighbours in the cells, the refractory convicts, were gayer than usual.
convicts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My neighbours in the cells, the refractory convicts, were gayer than usual.
corridors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
creaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
dance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through Bicêtre rang the sound of mirth, and dance, and song.
daylight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was bright daylight, and the prison was full of unaccustomed noise.
doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was bright daylight, and the prison was full of unaccustomed noise.
gayer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My neighbours in the cells, the refractory convicts, were gayer than usual.
HAVEauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I HAVE witnessed a horrible scene to-day.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
horrible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I HAVE witnessed a horrible scene to-day.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I HAVE witnessed a horrible scene to-day.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading My neighbours in the cells, the refractory convicts, were gayer than usual.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was bright daylight, and the prison was full of unaccustomed noise.
jingling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
keys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
mirth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through Bicêtre rang the sound of mirth, and dance, and song.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My neighbours in the cells, the refractory convicts, were gayer than usual.
neighbours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My neighbours in the cells, the refractory convicts, were gayer than usual.
noise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was bright daylight, and the prison was full of unaccustomed noise.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was bright daylight, and the prison was full of unaccustomed noise.
opening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
padlocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
prison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was bright daylight, and the prison was full of unaccustomed noise.
rang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through Bicêtre rang the sound of mirth, and dance, and song.
refractory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My neighbours in the cells, the refractory convicts, were gayer than usual.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I HAVE witnessed a horrible scene to-day.
shakingnounUS /ˈshaking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
shutting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
song
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through Bicêtre rang the sound of mirth, and dance, and song.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through Bicêtre rang the sound of mirth, and dance, and song.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading My neighbours in the cells, the refractory convicts, were gayer than usual.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was bright daylight, and the prison was full of unaccustomed noise.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading All through Bicêtre rang the sound of mirth, and dance, and song.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I HAVE witnessed a horrible scene to-day.
tread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
unaccustomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was bright daylight, and the prison was full of unaccustomed noise.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My neighbours in the cells, the refractory convicts, were gayer than usual.
voices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
waists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
warders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could hear the opening and shutting of heavy doors, the creaking of bolts and padlocks, the jingling of the keys that the warders carried at their waists, the shaking of the stairs under the tread of heavy feet, and voices calling to and answering each other, down the long corridors.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was bright daylight, and the prison was full of unaccustomed noise.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading My neighbours in the cells, the refractory convicts, were gayer than usual.
witnessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I HAVE witnessed a horrible scene to-day.
