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The Iron Heel
The Iron Heel

Chapter XXIII · The People of the Abyss

Cover illustration for The Iron Heel
Context Illustration Reading 1/63 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Suddenly a change came over the face of things.
A tingle of excitement ran along the air.
Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.
One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.
We saw the police disappearing down the cross-streets on the run, and knew that something terrible was coming.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Iron Heel

Chapter XXIII · The People of the Abyss

Reading 1/63 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Suddenly a change came over the face of things.
Line 2
A tingle of excitement ran along the air.
Line 3
Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.
Line 4
One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.
Line 5
We saw the police disappearing down the cross-streets on the run, and knew that something terrible was coming.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “A tingle of excitement ran along the air.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Suddenly a change came over the face of things.”

Shouted noun US /shouted/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “We saw the police disappearing down the cross-streets on the run, and knew that something terrible was coming.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Suddenly a change came over the face of things.”

Terrible noun US /ˈterrible/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “We saw the police disappearing down the cross-streets on the run, and knew that something terrible was coming.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 Suddenly a change came over the face of things.

air

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A tingle of excitement ran along the air.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading A tingle of excitement ran along the air.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

Automobiles

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

block

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

bomb

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

bursting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

came

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Suddenly a change came over the face of things.

change

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Suddenly a change came over the face of things.

coming

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We saw the police disappearing down the cross-streets on the run, and knew that something terrible was coming.

cross-streets

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We saw the police disappearing down the cross-streets on the run, and knew that something terrible was coming.

disappearing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We saw the police disappearing down the cross-streets on the run, and knew that something terrible was coming.

down

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

dozen

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.

excitement

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A tingle of excitement ran along the air.

face

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Suddenly a change came over the face of things.

fled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

high

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

hole

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

knew

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We saw the police disappearing down the cross-streets on the run, and knew that something terrible was coming.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

machines

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

moment

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Suddenly a change came over the face of things.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading We saw the police disappearing down the cross-streets on the run, and knew that something terrible was coming.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Suddenly a change came over the face of things.

past

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.

pavement

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

police

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We saw the police disappearing down the cross-streets on the run, and knew that something terrible was coming.

ran

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A tingle of excitement ran along the air.

run

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We saw the police disappearing down the cross-streets on the run, and knew that something terrible was coming.

saw

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We saw the police disappearing down the cross-streets on the run, and knew that something terrible was coming.

shoutednounUS /shouted/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading We saw the police disappearing down the cross-streets on the run, and knew that something terrible was coming.

speed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

SuddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Suddenly a change came over the face of things.

swerved

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading We saw the police disappearing down the cross-streets on the run, and knew that something terrible was coming.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading We saw the police disappearing down the cross-streets on the run, and knew that something terrible was coming.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Suddenly a change came over the face of things.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.

things

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Suddenly a change came over the face of things.

three

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.

tingle

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A tingle of excitement ran along the air.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.

torn

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

two

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.

warnings

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We saw the police disappearing down the cross-streets on the run, and knew that something terrible was coming.

well

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Automobiles fled past, two, three, a dozen, and from them warnings were shouted to us.

wildly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One of the machines swerved wildly at high speed half a block down, and the next moment, already left well behind it, the pavement was torn into a great hole by a bursting bomb.