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 He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
armchair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
assistance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
clasped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.
elbows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.
fixed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
ghastly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.
heaven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
hollow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
horror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
infinite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
issuednounUS /issued/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
Jordan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
knees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
lifted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.
LIGHTS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WANDERING LIGHTS.
lips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
Near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.
needed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.
NOdeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
oak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.
object
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.
prayers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
quivering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
raised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
rapped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
slide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
sooner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
stick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.
terror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.
utterednounUS /ˈuttered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He lifted his hands above his head, uttered a cry and fell forward on his face upon the oak floor.
vocal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.
WANDERING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WANDERING LIGHTS.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Near his hand was his stick with which he rapped against the wall or on the floor when he needed assistance.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading NO sooner was Mr. Jordan left alone than his face became ghastly, and his eyes were fixed with terror, as though he saw before him some object of infinite horror.
wrung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put his quivering thin hands on the elbows of his armchair and let himself slide to his knees, then he raised his hollow eyes to heaven, and clasped his hands and wrung them; his lips moved, but no vocal prayers issued from them.