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 OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Twice he failed and nearly lost his grip on the rope.
Arrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
bonds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stretching himself he took a deep breath and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stretching himself he took a deep breath and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Stretching himself he took a deep breath and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
carelessness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door in emerging from his subterranean prison.
charge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stretching himself he took a deep breath and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stretching himself he took a deep breath and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
depended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door in emerging from his subterranean prison.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
draw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
effort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door in emerging from his subterranean prison.
emerging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door in emerging from his subterranean prison.
Ernest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
failed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twice he failed and nearly lost his grip on the rope.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading Stretching himself he took a deep breath and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door in emerging from his subterranean prison.
FRYING-PAN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
grip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twice he failed and nearly lost his grip on the rope.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
helping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door in emerging from his subterranean prison.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Twice he failed and nearly lost his grip on the rope.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door in emerging from his subterranean prison.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door in emerging from his subterranean prison.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
joyfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stretching himself he took a deep breath and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twice he failed and nearly lost his grip on the rope.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door in emerging from his subterranean prison.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twice he failed and nearly lost his grip on the rope.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Stretching himself he took a deep breath and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Twice he failed and nearly lost his grip on the rope.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stretching himself he took a deep breath and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
opening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
OUT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
placed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stretching himself he took a deep breath and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
prison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door in emerging from his subterranean prison.
problem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
profit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
projection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door in emerging from his subterranean prison.
realized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stretching himself he took a deep breath and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
recovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stretching himself he took a deep breath and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
rope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twice he failed and nearly lost his grip on the rope.
serious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
Stretching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stretching himself he took a deep breath and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
subterraneanadjectiveUS /ˌsʌb.təˈreɪ.ni.ən/
Existing, occurring, or done under the earth's surface.
From this reading Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door in emerging from his subterranean prison.
succeeded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door in emerging from his subterranean prison.
supreme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door in emerging from his subterranean prison.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door in emerging from his subterranean prison.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Stretching himself he took a deep breath and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
trap-door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
Twice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twice he failed and nearly lost his grip on the rope.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
valuable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stretching himself he took a deep breath and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door, which through carelessness had been left open.
