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 As the detective pronounced the name “James Woodfall,” I gave a cry that startled them all.
all
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From this reading As the detective pronounced the name “James Woodfall,” I gave a cry that startled them all.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the detective pronounced the name “James Woodfall,” I gave a cry that startled them all.
aspect
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From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And, as I looked at her, the scales seemed to fall from my eyes, my dull wits to become keener, and part of the mystery of the house on the marsh to grow clear to me.
become
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From this reading And, as I looked at her, the scales seemed to fall from my eyes, my dull wits to become keener, and part of the mystery of the house on the marsh to grow clear to me.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
bent
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From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading I sank down upon the floor beside her, and she put her thin wasted arms round my neck and kissed me without a word.
change
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
clasped
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From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, as I looked at her, the scales seemed to fall from my eyes, my dull wits to become keener, and part of the mystery of the house on the marsh to grow clear to me.
cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the detective pronounced the name “James Woodfall,” I gave a cry that startled them all.
detective
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From this reading As the detective pronounced the name “James Woodfall,” I gave a cry that startled them all.
down
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From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
dull
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From this reading And, as I looked at her, the scales seemed to fall from my eyes, my dull wits to become keener, and part of the mystery of the house on the marsh to grow clear to me.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
eyes
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From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
fall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, as I looked at her, the scales seemed to fall from my eyes, my dull wits to become keener, and part of the mystery of the house on the marsh to grow clear to me.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sank down upon the floor beside her, and she put her thin wasted arms round my neck and kissed me without a word.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the detective pronounced the name “James Woodfall,” I gave a cry that startled them all.
grow
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From this reading And, as I looked at her, the scales seemed to fall from my eyes, my dull wits to become keener, and part of the mystery of the house on the marsh to grow clear to me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, as I looked at her, the scales seemed to fall from my eyes, my dull wits to become keener, and part of the mystery of the house on the marsh to grow clear to me.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As the detective pronounced the name “James Woodfall,” I gave a cry that startled them all.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
James
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the detective pronounced the name “James Woodfall,” I gave a cry that startled them all.
keener
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, as I looked at her, the scales seemed to fall from my eyes, my dull wits to become keener, and part of the mystery of the house on the marsh to grow clear to me.
kissed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sank down upon the floor beside her, and she put her thin wasted arms round my neck and kissed me without a word.
Laurence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
listening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And, as I looked at her, the scales seemed to fall from my eyes, my dull wits to become keener, and part of the mystery of the house on the marsh to grow clear to me.
marsh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, as I looked at her, the scales seemed to fall from my eyes, my dull wits to become keener, and part of the mystery of the house on the marsh to grow clear to me.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
mystery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, as I looked at her, the scales seemed to fall from my eyes, my dull wits to become keener, and part of the mystery of the house on the marsh to grow clear to me.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As the detective pronounced the name “James Woodfall,” I gave a cry that startled them all.
neck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sank down upon the floor beside her, and she put her thin wasted arms round my neck and kissed me without a word.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And, as I looked at her, the scales seemed to fall from my eyes, my dull wits to become keener, and part of the mystery of the house on the marsh to grow clear to me.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And, as I looked at her, the scales seemed to fall from my eyes, my dull wits to become keener, and part of the mystery of the house on the marsh to grow clear to me.
proclamation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
pronounced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the detective pronounced the name “James Woodfall,” I gave a cry that startled them all.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
Rayner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
sank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sank down upon the floor beside her, and she put her thin wasted arms round my neck and kissed me without a word.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
scales
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, as I looked at her, the scales seemed to fall from my eyes, my dull wits to become keener, and part of the mystery of the house on the marsh to grow clear to me.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
Shaken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I sank down upon the floor beside her, and she put her thin wasted arms round my neck and kissed me without a word.
shock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
shrank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the detective pronounced the name “James Woodfall,” I gave a cry that startled them all.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As the detective pronounced the name “James Woodfall,” I gave a cry that startled them all.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As the detective pronounced the name “James Woodfall,” I gave a cry that startled them all.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As the detective pronounced the name “James Woodfall,” I gave a cry that startled them all.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading I sank down upon the floor beside her, and she put her thin wasted arms round my neck and kissed me without a word.
tightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
trust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
wandering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
wasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sank down upon the floor beside her, and she put her thin wasted arms round my neck and kissed me without a word.
weighednounUS /ˈweighed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading I sank down upon the floor beside her, and she put her thin wasted arms round my neck and kissed me without a word.
wits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, as I looked at her, the scales seemed to fall from my eyes, my dull wits to become keener, and part of the mystery of the house on the marsh to grow clear to me.
Woodfall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the detective pronounced the name “James Woodfall,” I gave a cry that startled them all.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sank down upon the floor beside her, and she put her thin wasted arms round my neck and kissed me without a word.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shaken as my trust in Mr. Rayner had already been, the shock seemed in a moment to change the aspect of the whole world to me.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shrank even from Laurence as he would have put his arms round me, and my wild wandering eyes fell upon Mrs. Rayner, who sat with her hands tightly clasped and head bent, listening to the proclamation of the secret which had weighed her down for years.
