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 At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
abandoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
accident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If Dr. Syx had been on his guard this accident wouldn't have happened," replied Hall, with an almost inaudible chuckle.
accidentally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I begin to suspect," I replied, "that you have accidentally run into Dr. Syx's mine."
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If Dr. Syx had been on his guard this accident wouldn't have happened," replied Hall, with an almost inaudible chuckle.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "If Dr. Syx had been on his guard this accident wouldn't have happened," replied Hall, with an almost inaudible chuckle.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Do you know what you are looking at?" asked Hall in my ear.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Do you know what you are looking at?" asked Hall in my ear.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "If Dr. Syx had been on his guard this accident wouldn't have happened," replied Hall, with an almost inaudible chuckle.
begin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I begin to suspect," I replied, "that you have accidentally run into Dr. Syx's mine."
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
cars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
centre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the centre of the tunnel ran a railway track.
change
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
chuckle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If Dr. Syx had been on his guard this accident wouldn't have happened," replied Hall, with an almost inaudible chuckle.
considerably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
direction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Do you know what you are looking at?" asked Hall in my ear.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I begin to suspect," I replied, "that you have accidentally run into Dr. Syx's mine."
ear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Do you know what you are looking at?" asked Hall in my ear.
elbow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
excavators
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
flat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
guard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If Dr. Syx had been on his guard this accident wouldn't have happened," replied Hall, with an almost inaudible chuckle.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
Hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Do you know what you are looking at?" asked Hall in my ear.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If Dr. Syx had been on his guard this accident wouldn't have happened," replied Hall, with an almost inaudible chuckle.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I begin to suspect," I replied, "that you have accidentally run into Dr. Syx's mine."
heap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "If Dr. Syx had been on his guard this accident wouldn't have happened," replied Hall, with an almost inaudible chuckle.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
inaudible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If Dr. Syx had been on his guard this accident wouldn't have happened," replied Hall, with an almost inaudible chuckle.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "I begin to suspect," I replied, "that you have accidentally run into Dr. Syx's mine."
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Do you know what you are looking at?" asked Hall in my ear.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
loaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Do you know what you are looking at?" asked Hall in my ear.
material
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I begin to suspect," I replied, "that you have accidentally run into Dr. Syx's mine."
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Do you know what you are looking at?" asked Hall in my ear.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
difficult to explain or understand
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "If Dr. Syx had been on his guard this accident wouldn't have happened," replied Hall, with an almost inaudible chuckle.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
outlines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
railway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the centre of the tunnel ran a railway track.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the centre of the tunnel ran a railway track.
repliednounUS /replied/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I begin to suspect," I replied, "that you have accidentally run into Dr. Syx's mine."
run
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I begin to suspect," I replied, "that you have accidentally run into Dr. Syx's mine."
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
started
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
stone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
suspect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I begin to suspect," I replied, "that you have accidentally run into Dr. Syx's mine."
Syx
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If Dr. Syx had been on his guard this accident wouldn't have happened," replied Hall, with an almost inaudible chuckle.
Syx's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I begin to suspect," I replied, "that you have accidentally run into Dr. Syx's mine."
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I begin to suspect," I replied, "that you have accidentally run into Dr. Syx's mine."
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
ThroughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Through the centre of the tunnel ran a railway track.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
tracknounUS /træk/
a route or signs showing the way someone went
From this reading Through the centre of the tunnel ran a railway track.
tunnel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Do you know what you are looking at?" asked Hall in my ear.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
widened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end where we had met it the mysterious tunnel was considerably widened at one side, as if the excavators had started to change direction and then abandoned the work, and in this elbow I could just see the outlines of two or three flat cars loaded with broken stone, while a heap of the same material lay near them.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If Dr. Syx had been on his guard this accident wouldn't have happened," replied Hall, with an almost inaudible chuckle.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Do you know what you are looking at?" asked Hall in my ear.
