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 THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
amused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could smile in amused bitterness but for the moment I could not speak.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
answer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
bitterness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could smile in amused bitterness but for the moment I could not speak.
boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I could smile in amused bitterness but for the moment I could not speak.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
content
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phroso sat with downcast eyes, twisting one hand round the other; the Pasha was content to answer my smile with his own.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could smile in amused bitterness but for the moment I could not speak.
cynical
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From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
downcast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phroso sat with downcast eyes, twisting one hand round the other; the Pasha was content to answer my smile with his own.
drewnounUS /drew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
elbow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phroso sat with downcast eyes, twisting one hand round the other; the Pasha was content to answer my smile with his own.
floated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
FRIEND
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phroso sat with downcast eyes, twisting one hand round the other; the Pasha was content to answer my smile with his own.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/
a sudden strong desire to act
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I could smile in amused bitterness but for the moment I could not speak.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
larger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
manned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could smile in amused bitterness but for the moment I could not speak.
Mouraki
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
Mouraki's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I could smile in amused bitterness but for the moment I could not speak.
oars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Phroso sat with downcast eyes, twisting one hand round the other; the Pasha was content to answer my smile with his own.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phroso sat with downcast eyes, twisting one hand round the other; the Pasha was content to answer my smile with his own.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phroso sat with downcast eyes, twisting one hand round the other; the Pasha was content to answer my smile with his own.
Pasha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phroso sat with downcast eyes, twisting one hand round the other; the Pasha was content to answer my smile with his own.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
path
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
Phroso
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phroso sat with downcast eyes, twisting one hand round the other; the Pasha was content to answer my smile with his own.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
revealed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
rifles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
rock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phroso sat with downcast eyes, twisting one hand round the other; the Pasha was content to answer my smile with his own.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phroso sat with downcast eyes, twisting one hand round the other; the Pasha was content to answer my smile with his own.
sea-bird
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
shamelessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could smile in amused bitterness but for the moment I could not speak.
soldiers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could smile in amused bitterness but for the moment I could not speak.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
stroke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The boat drew past the rock and, as we came round its elbow, I found across our path a larger boat, manned by four of Mouraki’s soldiers, who had laid down their oars and sat rifles in hand.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
tool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
twisting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phroso sat with downcast eyes, twisting one hand round the other; the Pasha was content to answer my smile with his own.
UNKNOWN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To his cynical question--for it revealed shamelessly the use he had meant to make of his tool--I returned no answer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Phroso sat with downcast eyes, twisting one hand round the other; the Pasha was content to answer my smile with his own.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading THE UNKNOWN FRIEND The boat still moved a little from the impulse of my last stroke, and we floated slowly past Mouraki who stood, like some great sea-bird on the rock.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Phroso sat with downcast eyes, twisting one hand round the other; the Pasha was content to answer my smile with his own.
