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 A deathly faintness came over her.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
bleeding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
to speak or reveal information, especially secretly
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
burnt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A deathly faintness came over her.
cavernous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
crawling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
deathly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A deathly faintness came over her.
despair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
destroy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
dread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdrɛdfəl/
extremely frightening or unpleasant
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
faintness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A deathly faintness came over her.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
fearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
finally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
flamenounUS /fleɪm/
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A deathly faintness came over her.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
Impatiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
inside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
lantern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
lestconjunctionUS /lest/
in order that something should not happen
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
lighting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A deathly faintness came over her.
panels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
parent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
paroxysms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
pluck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
pounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
sobbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
SomethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
stubborn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
task
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
threw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
treacherous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
undertook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
wavering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
