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 MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
affairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could recover from his astonishment over the changed nature of affairs, he found the barrel of the weapon pointed straight for his breast.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
Artie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
astonishment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could recover from his astonishment over the changed nature of affairs, he found the barrel of the weapon pointed straight for his breast.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
attack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
barrel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could recover from his astonishment over the changed nature of affairs, he found the barrel of the weapon pointed straight for his breast.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before he could recover from his astonishment over the changed nature of affairs, he found the barrel of the weapon pointed straight for his breast.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
breast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could recover from his astonishment over the changed nature of affairs, he found the barrel of the weapon pointed straight for his breast.
brothers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
brush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Hands up there, and keep your mouth shut," was the low but determined command.
changed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could recover from his astonishment over the changed nature of affairs, he found the barrel of the weapon pointed straight for his breast.
close
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
command
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hands up there, and keep your mouth shut," was the low but determined command.
confessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
conversation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before he could recover from his astonishment over the changed nature of affairs, he found the barrel of the weapon pointed straight for his breast.
cove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
Deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
deprived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/
having firmly decided to do something
From this reading "Hands up there, and keep your mouth shut," was the low but determined command.
dreaming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
easily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
enabled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
escaping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Before he could recover from his astonishment over the changed nature of affairs, he found the barrel of the weapon pointed straight for his breast.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Before he could recover from his astonishment over the changed nature of affairs, he found the barrel of the weapon pointed straight for his breast.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Before he could recover from his astonishment over the changed nature of affairs, he found the barrel of the weapon pointed straight for his breast.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
Handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading "Hands up there, and keep your mouth shut," was the low but determined command.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
hollow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hands up there, and keep your mouth shut," was the low but determined command.
LYON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
MAJOR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
mouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hands up there, and keep your mouth shut," was the low but determined command.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could recover from his astonishment over the changed nature of affairs, he found the barrel of the weapon pointed straight for his breast.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Before he could recover from his astonishment over the changed nature of affairs, he found the barrel of the weapon pointed straight for his breast.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
pistol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
pointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could recover from his astonishment over the changed nature of affairs, he found the barrel of the weapon pointed straight for his breast.
PROPOSAL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
quarters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
recover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could recover from his astonishment over the changed nature of affairs, he found the barrel of the weapon pointed straight for his breast.
REJECTS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
rock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hands up there, and keep your mouth shut," was the low but determined command.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
straight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could recover from his astonishment over the changed nature of affairs, he found the barrel of the weapon pointed straight for his breast.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It must be confessed that the major was not dreaming of an attack at such close quarters, and the pistol left his hand easily.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hands up there, and keep your mouth shut," was the low but determined command.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hands up there, and keep your mouth shut," was the low but determined command.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
weapon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had dropped into the water just as Deck and Artie reached the cove, and a small hollow under the rock had enabled him to keep his head above water and hear the conversation which passed between the two brothers.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading MAJOR LYON REJECTS A PROPOSAL The man who had thus suddenly deprived Major Deck Lyon of his weapon was the same who had been escaping through the brush.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Hands up there, and keep your mouth shut," was the low but determined command.