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 When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
accusation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What business had Max Allen to arrest him, innocent as he was of the dreadful accusation brought against him?
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading What business had Max Allen to arrest him, innocent as he was of the dreadful accusation brought against him?
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going to the heavy door, he shook it with all his strength, but it did not yield to his blows.
Allen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What business had Max Allen to arrest him, innocent as he was of the dreadful accusation brought against him?
allowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why had his father and Tom allowed it and left him there in jail, shut in with bars and bolts?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
arrest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What business had Max Allen to arrest him, innocent as he was of the dreadful accusation brought against him?
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading What business had Max Allen to arrest him, innocent as he was of the dreadful accusation brought against him?
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
bars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why had his father and Tom allowed it and left him there in jail, shut in with bars and bolts?
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He would get out,—he would be free.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
blows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going to the heavy door, he shook it with all his strength, but it did not yield to his blows.
bolts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why had his father and Tom allowed it and left him there in jail, shut in with bars and bolts?
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading What business had Max Allen to arrest him, innocent as he was of the dreadful accusation brought against him?
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What business had Max Allen to arrest him, innocent as he was of the dreadful accusation brought against him?
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Going to the heavy door, he shook it with all his strength, but it did not yield to his blows.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Going to the heavy door, he shook it with all his strength, but it did not yield to his blows.
die
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going to the heavy door, he shook it with all his strength, but it did not yield to his blows.
dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdrɛdfəl/
extremely frightening or unpleasant
From this reading What business had Max Allen to arrest him, innocent as he was of the dreadful accusation brought against him?
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why had his father and Tom allowed it and left him there in jail, shut in with bars and bolts?
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading He would get out,—he would be free.
frenzy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
Going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going to the heavy door, he shook it with all his strength, but it did not yield to his blows.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading What business had Max Allen to arrest him, innocent as he was of the dreadful accusation brought against him?
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going to the heavy door, he shook it with all his strength, but it did not yield to his blows.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Why had his father and Tom allowed it and left him there in jail, shut in with bars and bolts?
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Why had his father and Tom allowed it and left him there in jail, shut in with bars and bolts?
innocent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What business had Max Allen to arrest him, innocent as he was of the dreadful accusation brought against him?
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Why had his father and Tom allowed it and left him there in jail, shut in with bars and bolts?
jail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why had his father and Tom allowed it and left him there in jail, shut in with bars and bolts?
key
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Why had his father and Tom allowed it and left him there in jail, shut in with bars and bolts?
Max
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What business had Max Allen to arrest him, innocent as he was of the dreadful accusation brought against him?
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
Paul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
realize
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
seized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
shook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going to the heavy door, he shook it with all his strength, but it did not yield to his blows.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why had his father and Tom allowed it and left him there in jail, shut in with bars and bolts?
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Going to the heavy door, he shook it with all his strength, but it did not yield to his blows.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why had his father and Tom allowed it and left him there in jail, shut in with bars and bolts?
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
Tom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why had his father and Tom allowed it and left him there in jail, shut in with bars and bolts?
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
voices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What business had Max Allen to arrest him, innocent as he was of the dreadful accusation brought against him?
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why had his father and Tom allowed it and left him there in jail, shut in with bars and bolts?
wished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul heard the key turned upon him and the sound of voices die away and began to realize that he could not get out if he wished to, a kind of frenzy seized him and for a time he was beside himself.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Why had his father and Tom allowed it and left him there in jail, shut in with bars and bolts?
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would get out,—he would be free.
yield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going to the heavy door, he shook it with all his strength, but it did not yield to his blows.
