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 BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
affair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
astonishedadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/
very surprised
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
awe-inspiring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
BITER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
BITTEN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
breathless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
correspondingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
creatures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
cries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joe heard terrified cries of "Fish gang!"
danger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
encounter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
enemies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
escaping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
fireman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
Fish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joe heard terrified cries of "Fish gang!"
fled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
flight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
gang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
greeted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
group
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joe heard terrified cries of "Fish gang!"
heels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
Hill-dwellers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
impossibility
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
included
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
kites
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
learn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
melted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
meltingnounUS /ˈmelting/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
PitnounUS /pɪt/
A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
possess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
precarious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
predatory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
quickly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
Simpson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
spectacle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
terrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/
extremely frightened
From this reading Joe heard terrified cries of "Fish gang!"
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
threatened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
urchins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the little girls and urchins had melted away before the Simpson gang, so was melting away the Simpson gang before some new and correspondingly awe-inspiring group of predatory creatures.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE BITER BITTEN But life in the Pit at best was a precarious affair, as the three Hill-dwellers were quickly to learn.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Before Joe could even possess himself of his kites, his astonished eyes were greeted with the spectacle of all his enemies, the fireman included, taking to their heels in wild flight.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Fish gang!" from those who fled, and he would have fled himself from this new danger, only he was breathless from his last encounter, and knew the impossibility of escaping whatever threatened.
