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 prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
adjoined
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From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
alive
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From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Sometimes a place of right, Sometimes a place of wrong, Sometimes a place of rogues and thieves, And honest men among.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sometimes a place of right, Sometimes a place of wrong, Sometimes a place of rogues and thieves, And honest men among.
appointed
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From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
attendants
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From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
back
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From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
Bertram
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From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
broke
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From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
building
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From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
bulwarknounUS /ˈbʊlwərk/
a protective side or barrier on a ship
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
care
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
carriage
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From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
close
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From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
confinement
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From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
convey
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From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
Custom-house
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From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
defend
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From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
disposednounUS /ˈdisposed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
Early
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From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
Edinburgh
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From this reading Inscription on Edinburgh Tollbooth.
established
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
following
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From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
friend
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From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
grave
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From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
Hazlewood
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From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑnɪst/
truthful and trustworthy
From this reading Sometimes a place of right, Sometimes a place of wrong, Sometimes a place of rogues and thieves, And honest men among.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
huge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
Inscription
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From this reading Inscription on Edinburgh Tollbooth.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a place of right, Sometimes a place of wrong, Sometimes a place of rogues and thieves, And honest men among.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
necessary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
nonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Inscription on Edinburgh Tollbooth.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
Portanferry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
prison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
rampart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sometimes a place of right, Sometimes a place of wrong, Sometimes a place of rogues and thieves, And honest men among.
rogues
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a place of right, Sometimes a place of wrong, Sometimes a place of rogues and thieves, And honest men among.
sea-beach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
seaport
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
situated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
slope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
Sometimes
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From this reading Sometimes a place of right, Sometimes a place of wrong, Sometimes a place of rogues and thieves, And honest men among.
stones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
surf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
surly
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From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
thieves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a place of right, Sometimes a place of wrong, Sometimes a place of rogues and thieves, And honest men among.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
thrive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
Tollbooth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inscription on Edinburgh Tollbooth.
touchstone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This building adjoined to the Custom-house established at that little seaport, and both were situated so close to the sea-beach that it was necessary to defend the back part with a large and strong rampart or bulwark of huge stones, disposed in a slope towards the surf, which often reached and broke upon them.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading A prison is a house of care, A place where none can thrive, A touchstone true to try a friend, A grave for one alive.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Early on the following morning, the carriage which had brought Bertram to Hazlewood House, was, with his two silent and surly attendants, appointed to convey him to his place of confinement at Portanferry.
wrong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a place of right, Sometimes a place of wrong, Sometimes a place of rogues and thieves, And honest men among.
