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 It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
action
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered what Drummond was doing, and what action he would take when he found his friend missing.
AFTERprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It appeared impossible that so much could have happened in forty-five minutes.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
bells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
bolted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
churning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It appeared impossible that so much could have happened in forty-five minutes.
destination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/
not friendly or close
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered what Drummond was doing, and what action he would take when he found his friend missing.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
Drummond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered what Drummond was doing, and what action he would take when he found his friend missing.
edge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
eleven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
forty-five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It appeared impossible that so much could have happened in forty-five minutes.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He wondered what Drummond was doing, and what action he would take when he found his friend missing.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It appeared impossible that so much could have happened in forty-five minutes.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It appeared impossible that so much could have happened in forty-five minutes.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
hospitable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It appeared impossible that so much could have happened in forty-five minutes.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
incredible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
Lermontoff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
meditate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It appeared impossible that so much could have happened in forty-five minutes.
missing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered what Drummond was doing, and what action he would take when he found his friend missing.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It appeared impossible that so much could have happened in forty-five minutes.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
previously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
ringing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
shore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
situation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It appeared impossible that so much could have happened in forty-five minutes.
somewhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
steamer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He wondered what Drummond was doing, and what action he would take when he found his friend missing.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
three-quarters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
unknown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading AFTER the Captain left him, Lermontoff closed and bolted the door, then sat down upon the edge of his bed to meditate upon the situation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
watch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard distant bells ringing on shore somewhere, and looking at his watch saw it was just eleven o’clock.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed incredible that three-quarters of an hour previously he had left the hospitable doors of a friend, and now was churning his way in an unknown steamer to an unknown destination.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He wondered what Drummond was doing, and what action he would take when he found his friend missing.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He wondered what Drummond was doing, and what action he would take when he found his friend missing.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He wondered what Drummond was doing, and what action he would take when he found his friend missing.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He wondered what Drummond was doing, and what action he would take when he found his friend missing.