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 Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
Andronicus
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From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
ask
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From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
away
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From this reading She thought she might die of the pain only; she was sure that she must faint away if it lasted many moments longer.
awful
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From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
bear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
bitten
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From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
bloodnounUS /blood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
came
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From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
Carlo
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From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
chin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It made a thin, dark line from her mouth downward, a little on the left side, over her white chin.
clenched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It made a thin, dark line from her mouth downward, a little on the left side, over her white chin.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
die
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought she might die of the pain only; she was sure that she must faint away if it lasted many moments longer.
downward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It made a thin, dark line from her mouth downward, a little on the left side, over her white chin.
drawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
drop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
escaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
faint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought she might die of the pain only; she was sure that she must faint away if it lasted many moments longer.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It made a thin, dark line from her mouth downward, a little on the left side, over her white chin.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
lasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought she might die of the pain only; she was sure that she must faint away if it lasted many moments longer.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It made a thin, dark line from her mouth downward, a little on the left side, over her white chin.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It made a thin, dark line from her mouth downward, a little on the left side, over her white chin.
lip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It made a thin, dark line from her mouth downward, a little on the left side, over her white chin.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought she might die of the pain only; she was sure that she must faint away if it lasted many moments longer.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It made a thin, dark line from her mouth downward, a little on the left side, over her white chin.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought she might die of the pain only; she was sure that she must faint away if it lasted many moments longer.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
moments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought she might die of the pain only; she was sure that she must faint away if it lasted many moments longer.
mouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It made a thin, dark line from her mouth downward, a little on the left side, over her white chin.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading She thought she might die of the pain only; she was sure that she must faint away if it lasted many moments longer.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It made a thin, dark line from her mouth downward, a little on the left side, over her white chin.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It made a thin, dark line from her mouth downward, a little on the left side, over her white chin.
overtake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
pain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
praying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
quivering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
sake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
seconds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It made a thin, dark line from her mouth downward, a little on the left side, over her white chin.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
sobs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She thought she might die of the pain only; she was sure that she must faint away if it lasted many moments longer.
teeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading It made a thin, dark line from her mouth downward, a little on the left side, over her white chin.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She thought she might die of the pain only; she was sure that she must faint away if it lasted many moments longer.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Her breath came in deep and quivering sobs, drawn through her clenched teeth, but no other sound escaped her in those awful seconds.
tiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
torture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
trickled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
vengeance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
warned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It made a thin, dark line from her mouth downward, a little on the left side, over her white chin.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
Zeno's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was praying that death might come soon, but she did not ask for strength to be silent; that she had, for Carlo Zeno's sake, and for the sake of the just vengeance that would overtake Andronicus when she was dead, if only he were not warned of what was perhaps so near.
Zoë
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zoë had closed her eyes to bear the pain better, and a tiny drop of blood slowly trickled from the lip she had bitten in the first moment of the torture.
