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 SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
arm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were arm racks round the stanchions, containing muskets, cutlasses, and long, double-barrelled pistols.
arranged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had been arranged like the mess-deck of a war-ship; there were sea-chests and bags ranged trimly round the inner wall; there was a trestle table littered with tin pannikins and plates.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
bags
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had been arranged like the mess-deck of a war-ship; there were sea-chests and bags ranged trimly round the inner wall; there was a trestle table littered with tin pannikins and plates.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The room had been arranged like the mess-deck of a war-ship; there were sea-chests and bags ranged trimly round the inner wall; there was a trestle table littered with tin pannikins and plates.
boxes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
bushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
chamber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
clean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
cliff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
containing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were arm racks round the stanchions, containing muskets, cutlasses, and long, double-barrelled pistols.
cutlasses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were arm racks round the stanchions, containing muskets, cutlasses, and long, double-barrelled pistols.
deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
double-barrelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were arm racks round the stanchions, containing muskets, cutlasses, and long, double-barrelled pistols.
ends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
fishermen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
frigate's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The room had been arranged like the mess-deck of a war-ship; there were sea-chests and bags ranged trimly round the inner wall; there was a trestle table littered with tin pannikins and plates.
hidden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
holes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
inner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
larger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The roof was supported by a line of wooden stanchions.
littered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were arm racks round the stanchions, containing muskets, cutlasses, and long, double-barrelled pistols.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
mess-deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had been arranged like the mess-deck of a war-ship; there were sea-chests and bags ranged trimly round the inner wall; there was a trestle table littered with tin pannikins and plates.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
musketsnounUS /ˈmuskets/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading There were arm racks round the stanchions, containing muskets, cutlasses, and long, double-barrelled pistols.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
pannikins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had been arranged like the mess-deck of a war-ship; there were sea-chests and bags ranged trimly round the inner wall; there was a trestle table littered with tin pannikins and plates.
passing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
pistols
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were arm racks round the stanchions, containing muskets, cutlasses, and long, double-barrelled pistols.
plates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had been arranged like the mess-deck of a war-ship; there were sea-chests and bags ranged trimly round the inner wall; there was a trestle table littered with tin pannikins and plates.
prison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
racks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were arm racks round the stanchions, containing muskets, cutlasses, and long, double-barrelled pistols.
ranged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had been arranged like the mess-deck of a war-ship; there were sea-chests and bags ranged trimly round the inner wall; there was a trestle table littered with tin pannikins and plates.
roof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The roof was supported by a line of wooden stanchions.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had been arranged like the mess-deck of a war-ship; there were sea-chests and bags ranged trimly round the inner wall; there was a trestle table littered with tin pannikins and plates.
sea-chests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had been arranged like the mess-deck of a war-ship; there were sea-chests and bags ranged trimly round the inner wall; there was a trestle table littered with tin pannikins and plates.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
SIGNING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
stanchions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The roof was supported by a line of wooden stanchions.
streamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
supported
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The roof was supported by a line of wooden stanchions.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had been arranged like the mess-deck of a war-ship; there were sea-chests and bags ranged trimly round the inner wall; there was a trestle table littered with tin pannikins and plates.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
tin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had been arranged like the mess-deck of a war-ship; there were sea-chests and bags ranged trimly round the inner wall; there was a trestle table littered with tin pannikins and plates.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
trestle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had been arranged like the mess-deck of a war-ship; there were sea-chests and bags ranged trimly round the inner wall; there was a trestle table littered with tin pannikins and plates.
trimly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had been arranged like the mess-deck of a war-ship; there were sea-chests and bags ranged trimly round the inner wall; there was a trestle table littered with tin pannikins and plates.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had been arranged like the mess-deck of a war-ship; there were sea-chests and bags ranged trimly round the inner wall; there was a trestle table littered with tin pannikins and plates.
war-ship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had been arranged like the mess-deck of a war-ship; there were sea-chests and bags ranged trimly round the inner wall; there was a trestle table littered with tin pannikins and plates.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was not, perhaps, quite so light as the other room, but there were great holes in the cliff hidden by bushes from the view of passing fishermen, and the sun streamed through these on to the floor, leaving only the ends of the room in shadow.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading SIGNING ON The inner room was much larger than the prison chamber; it was not littered with boxes, but clean and open like a frigate's lower deck.
wooden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The roof was supported by a line of wooden stanchions.
