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 had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I fancied I heard the breathing of a crowd of those dreadful little beings about me.
afraidadjectiveUS /əˈfreɪd/
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
almost
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From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
astonishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I felt the box of matches in my hand being gently disengaged, and other hands behind me plucking at my clothing.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading I felt the box of matches in my hand being gently disengaged, and other hands behind me plucking at my clothing.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading I felt the box of matches in my hand being gently disengaged, and other hands behind me plucking at my clothing.
beings
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From this reading I fancied I heard the breathing of a crowd of those dreadful little beings about me.
box
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
breathing
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From this reading I fancied I heard the breathing of a crowd of those dreadful little beings about me.
came
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From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
clothing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt the box of matches in my hand being gently disengaged, and other hands behind me plucking at my clothing.
crowd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancied I heard the breathing of a crowd of those dreadful little beings about me.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
discovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
disengaged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt the box of matches in my hand being gently disengaged, and other hands behind me plucking at my clothing.
dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdrɛdfəl/
extremely frightening or unpleasant
From this reading I fancied I heard the breathing of a crowd of those dreadful little beings about me.
economise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
fancied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancied I heard the breathing of a crowd of those dreadful little beings about me.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt the box of matches in my hand being gently disengaged, and other hands behind me plucking at my clothing.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
gently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt the box of matches in my hand being gently disengaged, and other hands behind me plucking at my clothing.
glimpse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading I felt the box of matches in my hand being gently disengaged, and other hands behind me plucking at my clothing.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancied I heard the breathing of a crowd of those dreadful little beings about me.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
lank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I fancied I heard the breathing of a crowd of those dreadful little beings about me.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
machinery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
matches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
novelty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
occurred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
odour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt the box of matches in my hand being gently disengaged, and other hands behind me plucking at my clothing.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
Overworlders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
peculiar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
plucking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt the box of matches in my hand being gently disengaged, and other hands behind me plucking at my clothing.
push
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
run
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
sensible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
store
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I fancied I heard the breathing of a crowd of those dreadful little beings about me.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
touched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
unpleasant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
wasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Now, as I say, I had four left, and while I stood in the dark, a hand touched mine, lank fingers came feeling over my face, and I was sensible of a peculiar unpleasant odour.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It had never occurred to me until that moment that there was any need to economise them, and I had wasted almost half the box in astonishing the Overworlders, to whom fire was a novelty.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “I was afraid to push my way in among all this machinery in the dark, and it was only with my last glimpse of light I discovered that my store of matches had run low.
