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 may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
arrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My arrow can be of no use to you, so give it to me.”
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he shot back the bolt, and the gold-bearded man stepped out into the world.
bars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading My arrow can be of no use to you, so give it to me.”
begged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
bolt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he shot back the bolt, and the gold-bearded man stepped out into the world.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading My arrow can be of no use to you, so give it to me.”
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
die
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
earnestly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, he prayed so earnestly that the prince’s heart was touched, for he was a tender-hearted boy who pitied the sorrows of other people.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My arrow can be of no use to you, so give it to me.”
gold-bearded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he shot back the bolt, and the gold-bearded man stepped out into the world.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
handed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
harder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, he prayed so earnestly that the prince’s heart was touched, for he was a tender-hearted boy who pitied the sorrows of other people.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
horrible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
Indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, he prayed so earnestly that the prince’s heart was touched, for he was a tender-hearted boy who pitied the sorrows of other people.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading So he shot back the bolt, and the gold-bearded man stepped out into the world.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading My arrow can be of no use to you, so give it to me.”
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My arrow can be of no use to you, so give it to me.”
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading My arrow can be of no use to you, so give it to me.”
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading My arrow can be of no use to you, so give it to me.”
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, he prayed so earnestly that the prince’s heart was touched, for he was a tender-hearted boy who pitied the sorrows of other people.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, he prayed so earnestly that the prince’s heart was touched, for he was a tender-hearted boy who pitied the sorrows of other people.
pitied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, he prayed so earnestly that the prince’s heart was touched, for he was a tender-hearted boy who pitied the sorrows of other people.
prayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, he prayed so earnestly that the prince’s heart was touched, for he was a tender-hearted boy who pitied the sorrows of other people.
prince
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
prince's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, he prayed so earnestly that the prince’s heart was touched, for he was a tender-hearted boy who pitied the sorrows of other people.
repliednounUS /replied/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
returns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
says
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
shot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he shot back the bolt, and the gold-bearded man stepped out into the world.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading My arrow can be of no use to you, so give it to me.”
sorrows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, he prayed so earnestly that the prince’s heart was touched, for he was a tender-hearted boy who pitied the sorrows of other people.
stepfather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
stepped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he shot back the bolt, and the gold-bearded man stepped out into the world.
tender-hearted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, he prayed so earnestly that the prince’s heart was touched, for he was a tender-hearted boy who pitied the sorrows of other people.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
touched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, he prayed so earnestly that the prince’s heart was touched, for he was a tender-hearted boy who pitied the sorrows of other people.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My arrow can be of no use to you, so give it to me.”
war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Indeed, he prayed so earnestly that the prince’s heart was touched, for he was a tender-hearted boy who pitied the sorrows of other people.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Indeed, he prayed so earnestly that the prince’s heart was touched, for he was a tender-hearted boy who pitied the sorrows of other people.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he shot back the bolt, and the gold-bearded man stepped out into the world.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he begged harder than ever that the prince would open the door and set him free.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I may not let you out,” replied the boy, “for if I do my stepfather says that I shall have to die a horrible death when he returns from the war.
