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 The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
advance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was looking over his shoulder at my advance.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I had come well within range he saluted me by a nerve-shattering: “Where have you been all this time?”
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
anywhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
apoplecticadjectiveUS /ˌæpəˈplɛktɪk/
caused by or resembling a stroke, with sudden loss of movement or consciousness
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was looking over his shoulder at my advance.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
beard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But his hand was holding a pen--the official pen, far mightier than the sword in making or marring the fortune of simple toiling men.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When I had come well within range he saluted me by a nerve-shattering: “Where have you been all this time?”
CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
chin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When I had come well within range he saluted me by a nerve-shattering: “Where have you been all this time?”
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
deputy-Neptune
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
Ellis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his hand was holding a pen--the official pen, far mightier than the sword in making or marring the fortune of simple toiling men.
fortunenounUS /ˈfortune/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But his hand was holding a pen--the official pen, far mightier than the sword in making or marring the fortune of simple toiling men.
fresh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his hand was holding a pen--the official pen, far mightier than the sword in making or marring the fortune of simple toiling men.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was looking over his shoulder at my advance.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
holding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his hand was holding a pen--the official pen, far mightier than the sword in making or marring the fortune of simple toiling men.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was looking over his shoulder at my advance.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his hand was holding a pen--the official pen, far mightier than the sword in making or marring the fortune of simple toiling men.
marring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his hand was holding a pen--the official pen, far mightier than the sword in making or marring the fortune of simple toiling men.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When I had come well within range he saluted me by a nerve-shattering: “Where have you been all this time?”
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his hand was holding a pen--the official pen, far mightier than the sword in making or marring the fortune of simple toiling men.
mightier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his hand was holding a pen--the official pen, far mightier than the sword in making or marring the fortune of simple toiling men.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading He was looking over his shoulder at my advance.
nerve-shattering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I had come well within range he saluted me by a nerve-shattering: “Where have you been all this time?”
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
official
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his hand was holding a pen--the official pen, far mightier than the sword in making or marring the fortune of simple toiling men.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But his hand was holding a pen--the official pen, far mightier than the sword in making or marring the fortune of simple toiling men.
OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He was looking over his shoulder at my advance.
pen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his hand was holding a pen--the official pen, far mightier than the sword in making or marring the fortune of simple toiling men.
range
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I had come well within range he saluted me by a nerve-shattering: “Where have you been all this time?”
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
saluted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I had come well within range he saluted me by a nerve-shattering: “Where have you been all this time?”
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
shoulder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was looking over his shoulder at my advance.
silver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
simple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his hand was holding a pen--the official pen, far mightier than the sword in making or marring the fortune of simple toiling men.
smooth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
surmounting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
sword
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his hand was holding a pen--the official pen, far mightier than the sword in making or marring the fortune of simple toiling men.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But his hand was holding a pen--the official pen, far mightier than the sword in making or marring the fortune of simple toiling men.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading When I had come well within range he saluted me by a nerve-shattering: “Where have you been all this time?”
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When I had come well within range he saluted me by a nerve-shattering: “Where have you been all this time?”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
toiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his hand was holding a pen--the official pen, far mightier than the sword in making or marring the fortune of simple toiling men.
top-knot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
trident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
umbrella
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our deputy-Neptune had no beard on his chin, and there was no trident to be seen standing in a corner anywhere, like an umbrella.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I had come well within range he saluted me by a nerve-shattering: “Where have you been all this time?”
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When I had come well within range he saluted me by a nerve-shattering: “Where have you been all this time?”
WhereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading When I had come well within range he saluted me by a nerve-shattering: “Where have you been all this time?”
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading When I had come well within range he saluted me by a nerve-shattering: “Where have you been all this time?”
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The next thing I saw was the top-knot of silver hair surmounting Captain Ellis’ smooth red face, which would have been apoplectic if it hadn’t had such a fresh appearance.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading When I had come well within range he saluted me by a nerve-shattering: “Where have you been all this time?”
