Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the brown chamber the rope had been made fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading In the brown chamber the rope had been made fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Joan stood by; but as the rope lengthened, and still Dick continued to pay it out, extreme fear began to conquer her resolution.
attention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
attract
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the brown chamber the rope had been made fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In the brown chamber the rope had been made fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had not been detached, and Dick, taking the coil to the window, began to lower it slowly and cautiously into the darkness of the night.
blowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the brown chamber the rope had been made fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Joan stood by; but as the rope lengthened, and still Dick continued to pay it out, extreme fear began to conquer her resolution.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Joan stood by; but as the rope lengthened, and still Dick continued to pay it out, extreme fear began to conquer her resolution.
cautiously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been detached, and Dick, taking the coil to the window, began to lower it slowly and cautiously into the darkness of the night.
chamber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the brown chamber the rope had been made fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed.
coil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been detached, and Dick, taking the coil to the window, began to lower it slowly and cautiously into the darkness of the night.
conquer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan stood by; but as the rope lengthened, and still Dick continued to pay it out, extreme fear began to conquer her resolution.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Joan stood by; but as the rope lengthened, and still Dick continued to pay it out, extreme fear began to conquer her resolution.
corridor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been detached, and Dick, taking the coil to the window, began to lower it slowly and cautiously into the darkness of the night.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dick," she said, "is it so deep?
detached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been detached, and Dick, taking the coil to the window, began to lower it slowly and cautiously into the darkness of the night.
Dick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
exceeding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the brown chamber the rope had been made fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed.
extreme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan stood by; but as the rope lengthened, and still Dick continued to pay it out, extreme fear began to conquer her resolution.
fast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the brown chamber the rope had been made fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan stood by; but as the rope lengthened, and still Dick continued to pay it out, extreme fear began to conquer her resolution.
frame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the brown chamber the rope had been made fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the brown chamber the rope had been made fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the brown chamber the rope had been made fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Joan stood by; but as the rope lengthened, and still Dick continued to pay it out, extreme fear began to conquer her resolution.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the brown chamber the rope had been made fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It had not been detached, and Dick, taking the coil to the window, began to lower it slowly and cautiously into the darkness of the night.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Dick," she said, "is it so deep?
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan stood by; but as the rope lengthened, and still Dick continued to pay it out, extreme fear began to conquer her resolution.
lamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
lengthened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan stood by; but as the rope lengthened, and still Dick continued to pay it out, extreme fear began to conquer her resolution.
lestconjunctionUS /lest/
in order that something should not happen
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been detached, and Dick, taking the coil to the window, began to lower it slowly and cautiously into the darkness of the night.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the brown chamber the rope had been made fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been detached, and Dick, taking the coil to the window, began to lower it slowly and cautiously into the darkness of the night.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It had not been detached, and Dick, taking the coil to the window, began to lower it slowly and cautiously into the darkness of the night.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the brown chamber the rope had been made fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
pay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan stood by; but as the rope lengthened, and still Dick continued to pay it out, extreme fear began to conquer her resolution.
resolution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan stood by; but as the rope lengthened, and still Dick continued to pay it out, extreme fear began to conquer her resolution.
rope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the brown chamber the rope had been made fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dick," she said, "is it so deep?
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Dick," she said, "is it so deep?
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been detached, and Dick, taking the coil to the window, began to lower it slowly and cautiously into the darkness of the night.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Dick," she said, "is it so deep?
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Joan stood by; but as the rope lengthened, and still Dick continued to pay it out, extreme fear began to conquer her resolution.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Joan stood by; but as the rope lengthened, and still Dick continued to pay it out, extreme fear began to conquer her resolution.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been detached, and Dick, taking the coil to the window, began to lower it slowly and cautiously into the darkness of the night.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the brown chamber the rope had been made fast to the frame of an exceeding heavy and ancient bed.
up-stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dick, blowing out his lamp lest it should attract attention, led the way up-stairs and along the corridor.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been detached, and Dick, taking the coil to the window, began to lower it slowly and cautiously into the darkness of the night.
