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 We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
AboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Above us, the massive iron girders of the arch were faintly visible, and below us its ponderous shadow seemed to sink down to the bottom of the stream.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We had been lying here some half an hour.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We were fain to hold on pretty tight, though close in shore, for the river was swollen and the tide running down very strong.
arch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading We were watching certain water-rats of human growth, and lay in the deep shade as quiet as mice; our light hidden and our scraps of conversation carried on in whispers.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We had been lying here some half an hour.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Above us, the massive iron girders of the arch were faintly visible, and below us its ponderous shadow seemed to sink down to the bottom of the stream.
bottom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above us, the massive iron girders of the arch were faintly visible, and below us its ponderous shadow seemed to sink down to the bottom of the stream.
Bridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were watching certain water-rats of human growth, and lay in the deep shade as quiet as mice; our light hidden and our scraps of conversation carried on in whispers.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were watching certain water-rats of human growth, and lay in the deep shade as quiet as mice; our light hidden and our scraps of conversation carried on in whispers.
close
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were fain to hold on pretty tight, though close in shore, for the river was swollen and the tide running down very strong.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
conversation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were watching certain water-rats of human growth, and lay in the deep shade as quiet as mice; our light hidden and our scraps of conversation carried on in whispers.
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
fain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were fain to hold on pretty tight, though close in shore, for the river was swollen and the tide running down very strong.
faintly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above us, the massive iron girders of the arch were faintly visible, and below us its ponderous shadow seemed to sink down to the bottom of the stream.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We were fain to hold on pretty tight, though close in shore, for the river was swollen and the tide running down very strong.
four-oared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
Galley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
girders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above us, the massive iron girders of the arch were faintly visible, and below us its ponderous shadow seemed to sink down to the bottom of the stream.
growth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were watching certain water-rats of human growth, and lay in the deep shade as quiet as mice; our light hidden and our scraps of conversation carried on in whispers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had been lying here some half an hour.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We had been lying here some half an hour.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We had been lying here some half an hour.
hidden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were watching certain water-rats of human growth, and lay in the deep shade as quiet as mice; our light hidden and our scraps of conversation carried on in whispers.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were fain to hold on pretty tight, though close in shore, for the river was swollen and the tide running down very strong.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had been lying here some half an hour.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were watching certain water-rats of human growth, and lay in the deep shade as quiet as mice; our light hidden and our scraps of conversation carried on in whispers.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above us, the massive iron girders of the arch were faintly visible, and below us its ponderous shadow seemed to sink down to the bottom of the stream.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Above us, the massive iron girders of the arch were faintly visible, and below us its ponderous shadow seemed to sink down to the bottom of the stream.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were watching certain water-rats of human growth, and lay in the deep shade as quiet as mice; our light hidden and our scraps of conversation carried on in whispers.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were watching certain water-rats of human growth, and lay in the deep shade as quiet as mice; our light hidden and our scraps of conversation carried on in whispers.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
massive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above us, the massive iron girders of the arch were faintly visible, and below us its ponderous shadow seemed to sink down to the bottom of the stream.
mice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were watching certain water-rats of human growth, and lay in the deep shade as quiet as mice; our light hidden and our scraps of conversation carried on in whispers.
oars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
Police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
ponderous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above us, the massive iron girders of the arch were faintly visible, and below us its ponderous shadow seemed to sink down to the bottom of the stream.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were fain to hold on pretty tight, though close in shore, for the river was swollen and the tide running down very strong.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were watching certain water-rats of human growth, and lay in the deep shade as quiet as mice; our light hidden and our scraps of conversation carried on in whispers.
river
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were fain to hold on pretty tight, though close in shore, for the river was swollen and the tide running down very strong.
runningnounUS /ˈrunning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading We were fain to hold on pretty tight, though close in shore, for the river was swollen and the tide running down very strong.
scraps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were watching certain water-rats of human growth, and lay in the deep shade as quiet as mice; our light hidden and our scraps of conversation carried on in whispers.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Above us, the massive iron girders of the arch were faintly visible, and below us its ponderous shadow seemed to sink down to the bottom of the stream.
shade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were watching certain water-rats of human growth, and lay in the deep shade as quiet as mice; our light hidden and our scraps of conversation carried on in whispers.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
shore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were fain to hold on pretty tight, though close in shore, for the river was swollen and the tide running down very strong.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
sink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above us, the massive iron girders of the arch were faintly visible, and below us its ponderous shadow seemed to sink down to the bottom of the stream.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had been lying here some half an hour.
Southwark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
stream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above us, the massive iron girders of the arch were faintly visible, and below us its ponderous shadow seemed to sink down to the bottom of the stream.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were fain to hold on pretty tight, though close in shore, for the river was swollen and the tide running down very strong.
Surrey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
swollen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were fain to hold on pretty tight, though close in shore, for the river was swollen and the tide running down very strong.
Thames
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading We were fain to hold on pretty tight, though close in shore, for the river was swollen and the tide running down very strong.
tide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
tight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were fain to hold on pretty tight, though close in shore, for the river was swollen and the tide running down very strong.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We were fain to hold on pretty tight, though close in shore, for the river was swollen and the tide running down very strong.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Above us, the massive iron girders of the arch were faintly visible, and below us its ponderous shadow seemed to sink down to the bottom of the stream.
Vauxhall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were fain to hold on pretty tight, though close in shore, for the river was swollen and the tide running down very strong.
visible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above us, the massive iron girders of the arch were faintly visible, and below us its ponderous shadow seemed to sink down to the bottom of the stream.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We were fain to hold on pretty tight, though close in shore, for the river was swollen and the tide running down very strong.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were watching certain water-rats of human growth, and lay in the deep shade as quiet as mice; our light hidden and our scraps of conversation carried on in whispers.
water-rats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were watching certain water-rats of human growth, and lay in the deep shade as quiet as mice; our light hidden and our scraps of conversation carried on in whispers.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
whispers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were watching certain water-rats of human growth, and lay in the deep shade as quiet as mice; our light hidden and our scraps of conversation carried on in whispers.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading We were in a four-oared Thames Police Galley, lying on our oars in the deep shadow of Southwark Bridge—under the corner arch on the Surrey side—having come down with the tide from Vauxhall.
