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 was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
Also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
bodyguard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.
by-entrance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
capacity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.
challenge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.
Chamber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
City
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
cloud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.
countersign
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.
Curtis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
evildoers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
fierce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.
Frowning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
grounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.
Henry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.
officers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
Once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.
passages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
Queens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.
rattling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.
Secretly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
sentry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
spear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
threaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
Throne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
Umslopogaas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
unquestioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also we were officers of the Queens’ bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go unquestioned.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I gave the countersign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was night—dead night—and the silence lay on the Frowning City like a cloud.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Umslopogaas, and myself threaded our way through the passages towards a by-entrance to the great Throne Chamber.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry.