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 Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I also groped over all the floor of my cell, but with like result.
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I also groped over all the floor of my cell, but with like result.
amiss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They appeared to be just as they had been left, and nothing amiss.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They appeared to be just as they had been left, and nothing amiss.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They appeared to be just as they had been left, and nothing amiss.
attitude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They appeared to be just as they had been left, and nothing amiss.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They appeared to be just as they had been left, and nothing amiss.
buskins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading I also groped over all the floor of my cell, but with like result.
considerable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
effort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I also groped over all the floor of my cell, but with like result.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
groped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I also groped over all the floor of my cell, but with like result.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They appeared to be just as they had been left, and nothing amiss.
half-upright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Nothing was there that ought not to have been.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They appeared to be just as they had been left, and nothing amiss.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They appeared to be just as they had been left, and nothing amiss.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I also groped over all the floor of my cell, but with like result.
listened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading Nothing was there that ought not to have been.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
patient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
raised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
repetition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
result
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I also groped over all the floor of my cell, but with like result.
silently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
single
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
Slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They appeared to be just as they had been left, and nothing amiss.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nothing was there that ought not to have been.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place where they were lying, but felt nothing there.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound.
