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 Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
abrasion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
assured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
bending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
canvas
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From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
creak
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From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
critics
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From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
day
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From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
deductions
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From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
desk
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From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
discerning
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From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
dressed
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From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
fearful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
felt
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From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
fighting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
galleries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
humble
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From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
knees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
lap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
MOUNTAINEER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
mountaineer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
neck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
NonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
nun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
passing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
picture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
precluded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
probability
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
recalled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
responsibleadjectiveUS /rɪˈspɑnsəbəl/
having a duty to protect or manage something
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
reverence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
rusty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
Saner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
stalk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
temple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
threw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
Tusk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
unconsciousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
varnishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
WOUNDED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
