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 COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
adventure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading So it was that when he could catch his breath, after swallowing a gulp or two of muddy water, he called out:
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Are you all right, Toby?"
arm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Max with his other hand had seized hold of Toby's arm, because they happened to be close together at the time.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Max with his other hand had seized hold of Toby's arm, because they happened to be close together at the time.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Max with his other hand had seized hold of Toby's arm, because they happened to be close together at the time.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
boys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it was that when he could catch his breath, after swallowing a gulp or two of muddy water, he called out:
bridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it was that when he could catch his breath, after swallowing a gulp or two of muddy water, he called out:
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
catch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it was that when he could catch his breath, after swallowing a gulp or two of muddy water, he called out:
chances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
close
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Max with his other hand had seized hold of Toby's arm, because they happened to be close together at the time.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
COMRADESnounUS /ˈkɑːmrædz/
people who share difficult work or danger, especially soldiers
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
confused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading So it was that when he could catch his breath, after swallowing a gulp or two of muddy water, he called out:
DISTRESSnounUS /dɪˈstrɛs/
extreme sadness or suffering
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
doubt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
ears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
enabled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
finally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
flood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
gripped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
gulp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it was that when he could catch his breath, after swallowing a gulp or two of muddy water, he called out:
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Max with his other hand had seized hold of Toby's arm, because they happened to be close together at the time.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Max with his other hand had seized hold of Toby's arm, because they happened to be close together at the time.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So it was that when he could catch his breath, after swallowing a gulp or two of muddy water, he called out:
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Max with his other hand had seized hold of Toby's arm, because they happened to be close together at the time.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Max with his other hand had seized hold of Toby's arm, because they happened to be close together at the time.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
involuntarily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
Max
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
muddy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it was that when he could catch his breath, after swallowing a gulp or two of muddy water, he called out:
nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading So it was that when he could catch his breath, after swallowing a gulp or two of muddy water, he called out:
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Max with his other hand had seized hold of Toby's arm, because they happened to be close together at the time.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it was that when he could catch his breath, after swallowing a gulp or two of muddy water, he called out:
railing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Are you all right, Toby?"
ringing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
rising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
seized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Max with his other hand had seized hold of Toby's arm, because they happened to be close together at the time.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So it was that when he could catch his breath, after swallowing a gulp or two of muddy water, he called out:
swallowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it was that when he could catch his breath, after swallowing a gulp or two of muddy water, he called out:
tenaciously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Max with his other hand had seized hold of Toby's arm, because they happened to be close together at the time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
Toby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Are you all right, Toby?"
Toby's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Max with his other hand had seized hold of Toby's arm, because they happened to be close together at the time.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Max with his other hand had seized hold of Toby's arm, because they happened to be close together at the time.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it was that when he could catch his breath, after swallowing a gulp or two of muddy water, he called out:
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it was that when he could catch his breath, after swallowing a gulp or two of muddy water, he called out:
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading So it was that when he could catch his breath, after swallowing a gulp or two of muddy water, he called out:
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading COMRADES IN DISTRESS It was all a confused nightmare to the boys who went down with the bridge that the rising flood had finally carried away.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They involuntarily gripped the railing tenaciously, because they had the last words of Max ringing in their ears; and no doubt it was this more than anything else that enabled them to come through the adventure with fair chances.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Are you all right, Toby?"
