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 IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
absolutely
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From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
all
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From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
arise
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From this reading He was motioned to arise, and as he did so his pistol was taken from him, and presently his hands were fastened tightly behind his back.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
back
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From this reading He was motioned to arise, and as he did so his pistol was taken from him, and presently his hands were fastened tightly behind his back.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
beheld
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From this reading IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He was motioned to arise, and as he did so his pistol was taken from him, and presently his hands were fastened tightly behind his back.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
clothing
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From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
complaints
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From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
department
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From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He was motioned to arise, and as he did so his pistol was taken from him, and presently his hands were fastened tightly behind his back.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
English
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From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
exceedingly
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From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
failed
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From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
fastened
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From this reading He was motioned to arise, and as he did so his pistol was taken from him, and presently his hands were fastened tightly behind his back.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading He was motioned to arise, and as he did so his pistol was taken from him, and presently his hands were fastened tightly behind his back.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was motioned to arise, and as he did so his pistol was taken from him, and presently his hands were fastened tightly behind his back.
head
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From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
heartless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was motioned to arise, and as he did so his pistol was taken from him, and presently his hands were fastened tightly behind his back.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
island
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
miles
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From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
military
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From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
most
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From this reading IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
motionedverbUS /ˈmoʊʃənd/
made a gesture telling someone to move or come closer
From this reading He was motioned to arise, and as he did so his pistol was taken from him, and presently his hands were fastened tightly behind his back.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
needed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
NonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
pistol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was motioned to arise, and as he did so his pistol was taken from him, and presently his hands were fastened tightly behind his back.
poverty-stricken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
presently
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From this reading He was motioned to arise, and as he did so his pistol was taken from him, and presently his hands were fastened tightly behind his back.
PRISON
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From this reading IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
prisoner
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From this reading IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
rags
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
several
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From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
shake
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From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
shoulders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
shrug
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From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was motioned to arise, and as he did so his pistol was taken from him, and presently his hands were fastened tightly behind his back.
Spaniards
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From this reading IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
SPANISH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
starved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
suffering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
supply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
talked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
thousands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
tightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was motioned to arise, and as he did so his pistol was taken from him, and presently his hands were fastened tightly behind his back.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
tropical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
villanous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
volubly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
Walter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading None of them could speak English, and several talked volubly in Spanish, at which Walter could do nothing but shake his head and shrug his shoulders.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
wilds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their clothing was in rags, for they had been in the wilds of the island, thousands of miles from home, for nearly two years, and a heartless, or poverty-stricken, military department had failed to supply them with what they absolutely needed.
yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all short, thin, and exceedingly yellow, as though suffering from tropical complaints, and looked more than half starved.
youth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN A SPANISH PRISON The Spaniards who had taken Walter a prisoner were the most villanous the youth had ever beheld.
