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 I stood for a second silent, irresolute.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading And yet I also felt that explanations must inevitably wait until the scene enacting above us was over.
account
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet I also felt that explanations must inevitably wait until the scene enacting above us was over.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
chamber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
Cyril's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
DAGGERnounUS /ˈdæɡ.ər/
A short knife with a pointed and edged blade, used as a stealth weapon.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
demand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
enacting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet I also felt that explanations must inevitably wait until the scene enacting above us was over.
events
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From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
explained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
explanation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
explanations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet I also felt that explanations must inevitably wait until the scene enacting above us was over.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I stood for a second silent, irresolute.
fully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
further
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
inevitably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet I also felt that explanations must inevitably wait until the scene enacting above us was over.
irresolute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I stood for a second silent, irresolute.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
lives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
match
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The match went out.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
moments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
occur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The match went out.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading And yet I also felt that explanations must inevitably wait until the scene enacting above us was over.
permit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
purpose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet I also felt that explanations must inevitably wait until the scene enacting above us was over.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I stood for a second silent, irresolute.
SHEATH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I stood for a second silent, irresolute.
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I stood for a second silent, irresolute.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
supposenounUS /ˈsuppose/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
supremely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
twice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
underground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And yet I also felt that explanations must inevitably wait until the scene enacting above us was over.
wait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet I also felt that explanations must inevitably wait until the scene enacting above us was over.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The match went out.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading THE SHEATH OF THE DAGGER That was one of those supremely trying moments which occur, I suppose, once or twice in the lives of most men, when events demand to be fully explained while time will on no account permit of the explanation.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I felt that I must know at once the reason and purpose of Sir Cyril's presence with me in the underground chamber, and that I could do nothing further until I had such knowledge.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet I also felt that explanations must inevitably wait until the scene enacting above us was over.
