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 LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The one woman had retired to her own car and Stafford, after a season of wild imagining, had returned to earth again.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The one woman had retired to her own car and Stafford, after a season of wild imagining, had returned to earth again.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
application
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
attention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The wind still howled outside, but the cold did not increase perceptibly.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one woman had retired to her own car and Stafford, after a season of wild imagining, had returned to earth again.
cheerful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind still howled outside, but the cold did not increase perceptibly.
comment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
degree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sat looking upon the scene with a degree of interest.
departure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The wind still howled outside, but the cold did not increase perceptibly.
discussion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
distract
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one woman had retired to her own car and Stafford, after a season of wild imagining, had returned to earth again.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
extraordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
feel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
finished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He sat looking upon the scene with a degree of interest.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The one woman had retired to her own car and Stafford, after a season of wild imagining, had returned to earth again.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
howled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind still howled outside, but the cold did not increase perceptibly.
imagining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one woman had retired to her own car and Stafford, after a season of wild imagining, had returned to earth again.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
incidents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
increase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind still howled outside, but the cold did not increase perceptibly.
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sat looking upon the scene with a degree of interest.
LIFEnounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
LINE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sat looking upon the scene with a degree of interest.
minister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
Mountain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The wind still howled outside, but the cold did not increase perceptibly.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
obtained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
odd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
outlook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The wind still howled outside, but the cold did not increase perceptibly.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one woman had retired to her own car and Stafford, after a season of wild imagining, had returned to earth again.
perceptibly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind still howled outside, but the cold did not increase perceptibly.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
prisoners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
retiredverbUS /rɪˈtaɪərd/
went away to a private place
From this reading The one woman had retired to her own car and Stafford, after a season of wild imagining, had returned to earth again.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The one woman had retired to her own car and Stafford, after a season of wild imagining, had returned to earth again.
Rocky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sat looking upon the scene with a degree of interest.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sat looking upon the scene with a degree of interest.
season
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one woman had retired to her own car and Stafford, after a season of wild imagining, had returned to earth again.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
serious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
situation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
smiles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
Stafford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one woman had retired to her own car and Stafford, after a season of wild imagining, had returned to earth again.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The wind still howled outside, but the cold did not increase perceptibly.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
strait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
theme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
travel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A more cheerful feeling had obtained and the situation was now looked upon by most of the prisoners as but one of the extraordinary incidents of Rocky Mountain travel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE LIFE LINE There were smiles before comment began, as the minister finished his odd story, which, as everybody seemed to feel, was told rather to distract attention from the outlook in the present strait than as having any serious application to the theme under discussion, and, for a time, there was a departure from the subject.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one woman had retired to her own car and Stafford, after a season of wild imagining, had returned to earth again.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The wind still howled outside, but the cold did not increase perceptibly.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He sat looking upon the scene with a degree of interest.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one woman had retired to her own car and Stafford, after a season of wild imagining, had returned to earth again.
