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 A straight, clear path stretched from her to the man she loved.
amountverbUS /əˈmaʊnt/
to reach or total a particular quantity or value
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “_Upon every misfortune another misfortune._”—ARABIC PROVERB.
Arab
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
ARABIC
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “_Upon every misfortune another misfortune._”—ARABIC PROVERB.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
backed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
carries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zarah sat leaning slightly forward, her face white under the tension of the moment, her jewelled fingers playing with the crystal knobs of the ivory chair.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A straight, clear path stretched from her to the man she loved.
close
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
crystal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zarah sat leaning slightly forward, her face white under the tension of the moment, her jewelled fingers playing with the crystal knobs of the ivory chair.
cummerbunds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
daggernounUS /ˈdæɡ.ər/
A short knife with a pointed and edged blade, used as a stealth weapon.
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
dais
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading “_Upon every misfortune another misfortune._”—ARABIC PROVERB.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A straight, clear path stretched from her to the man she loved.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A straight, clear path stretched from her to the man she loved.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
ivory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zarah sat leaning slightly forward, her face white under the tension of the moment, her jewelled fingers playing with the crystal knobs of the ivory chair.
jewelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zarah sat leaning slightly forward, her face white under the tension of the moment, her jewelled fingers playing with the crystal knobs of the ivory chair.
knobs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zarah sat leaning slightly forward, her face white under the tension of the moment, her jewelled fingers playing with the crystal knobs of the ivory chair.
leaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zarah sat leaning slightly forward, her face white under the tension of the moment, her jewelled fingers playing with the crystal knobs of the ivory chair.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
loved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A straight, clear path stretched from her to the man she loved.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A straight, clear path stretched from her to the man she loved.
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
misfortune
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “_Upon every misfortune another misfortune._”—ARABIC PROVERB.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zarah sat leaning slightly forward, her face white under the tension of the moment, her jewelled fingers playing with the crystal knobs of the ivory chair.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
over-bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
path
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A straight, clear path stretched from her to the man she loved.
playing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zarah sat leaning slightly forward, her face white under the tension of the moment, her jewelled fingers playing with the crystal knobs of the ivory chair.
pressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
proposition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
PROVERB
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “_Upon every misfortune another misfortune._”—ARABIC PROVERB.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zarah sat leaning slightly forward, her face white under the tension of the moment, her jewelled fingers playing with the crystal knobs of the ivory chair.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A straight, clear path stretched from her to the man she loved.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
slightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zarah sat leaning slightly forward, her face white under the tension of the moment, her jewelled fingers playing with the crystal knobs of the ivory chair.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
straight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A straight, clear path stretched from her to the man she loved.
straying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
stretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A straight, clear path stretched from her to the man she loved.
tension
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zarah sat leaning slightly forward, her face white under the tension of the moment, her jewelled fingers playing with the crystal knobs of the ivory chair.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A straight, clear path stretched from her to the man she loved.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
threat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A straight, clear path stretched from her to the man she loved.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Zarah sat leaning slightly forward, her face white under the tension of the moment, her jewelled fingers playing with the crystal knobs of the ivory chair.
UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “_Upon every misfortune another misfortune._”—ARABIC PROVERB.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
watch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
width
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood on each side, close together, leaving a path the width of the dais, their eyes over-bright and their fingers straying towards the dagger—which the Arab ever carries—in their cummerbunds.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Zarah sat leaning slightly forward, her face white under the tension of the moment, her jewelled fingers playing with the crystal knobs of the ivory chair.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The end of the room near the door was empty, the men having pressed forward towards the dais so as to watch the white man’s face when the proposition, which would amount to an order, backed by a threat, should be made to him.
Zarah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zarah sat leaning slightly forward, her face white under the tension of the moment, her jewelled fingers playing with the crystal knobs of the ivory chair.
