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 in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
abandoned
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From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
aim
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From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
all
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From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The distant roar of the waves now made her shudder; the occasional dismal cry of an owl, or a sea-gull, filled her with unspeakable horror.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
any
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From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
appetitenounUS /ˈæpətaɪt/
a desire for food
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
beasts
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From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
become
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From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
beloved
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From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
cry
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From this reading The distant roar of the waves now made her shudder; the occasional dismal cry of an owl, or a sea-gull, filled her with unspeakable horror.
darkness
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From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
dearer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
death-trap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
despair
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From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
destroyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
dismal
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From this reading The distant roar of the waves now made her shudder; the occasional dismal cry of an owl, or a sea-gull, filled her with unspeakable horror.
distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/
not friendly or close
From this reading The distant roar of the waves now made her shudder; the occasional dismal cry of an owl, or a sea-gull, filled her with unspeakable horror.
drawing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
dreamnounUS /driːm/
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
enemy
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From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
fall
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From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant roar of the waves now made her shudder; the occasional dismal cry of an owl, or a sea-gull, filled her with unspeakable horror.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
gazed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
gradually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
hate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
hemmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
horror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant roar of the waves now made her shudder; the occasional dismal cry of an owl, or a sea-gull, filled her with unspeakable horror.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
hungry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant roar of the waves now made her shudder; the occasional dismal cry of an owl, or a sea-gull, filled her with unspeakable horror.
Marguerite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
mercilessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
occasional
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant roar of the waves now made her shudder; the occasional dismal cry of an owl, or a sea-gull, filled her with unspeakable horror.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The distant roar of the waves now made her shudder; the occasional dismal cry of an owl, or a sea-gull, filled her with unspeakable horror.
owl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant roar of the waves now made her shudder; the occasional dismal cry of an owl, or a sea-gull, filled her with unspeakable horror.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
prepared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
presently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
prey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
ravenous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
relentless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
roar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant roar of the waves now made her shudder; the occasional dismal cry of an owl, or a sea-gull, filled her with unspeakable horror.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
satisfaction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
saving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
sea-gull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant roar of the waves now made her shudder; the occasional dismal cry of an owl, or a sea-gull, filled her with unspeakable horror.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
shape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
shudder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant roar of the waves now made her shudder; the occasional dismal cry of an owl, or a sea-gull, filled her with unspeakable horror.
sides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
suffered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
tightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
understood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
unspeakable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant roar of the waves now made her shudder; the occasional dismal cry of an owl, or a sea-gull, filled her with unspeakable horror.
wait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
waves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant roar of the waves now made her shudder; the occasional dismal cry of an owl, or a sea-gull, filled her with unspeakable horror.
web
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
whenceadverbUS /wens/
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As in a dream, Marguerite followed on; the web was drawing more and more tightly every moment round the beloved life, which had become dearer than all.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The distant roar of the waves now made her shudder; the occasional dismal cry of an owl, or a sea-gull, filled her with unspeakable horror.
wolf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought of the ravenous beasts—in human shape—who lay in wait for their prey, and destroyed them, as mercilessly as any hungry wolf, for the satisfaction of their own appetite of hate.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She had abandoned all hope of saving him: she saw him gradually hemmed in on all sides, and, in despair, she gazed round her into the darkness, and wondered whence he would presently come, to fall into the death-trap which his relentless enemy had prepared for him.
wronged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To see her husband once again, to tell him how she had suffered, how much she had wronged, and how little understood him, had become now her only aim.
