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 When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
Abdullah
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From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
Abu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
Ali-uled-Helu
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From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
aside
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From this reading When the prophet saw the newcomers he pushed aside the women and sat up on the couch.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
Barbary
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From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
Bedouins
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From this reading Idris, Gebhr, and the two Bedouins fell on their faces and then knelt with their hands on their chests.
bowed
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From this reading The Greek made a sign to Stasch to do the same, but the boy pretended not to see this; he merely bowed, and remained standing.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Greek made a sign to Stasch to do the same, but the boy pretended not to see this; he merely bowed, and remained standing.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Greek made a sign to Stasch to do the same, but the boy pretended not to see this; he merely bowed, and remained standing.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
Calif
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From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
captured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
chests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Idris, Gebhr, and the two Bedouins fell on their faces and then knelt with their hands on their chests.
couch
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From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
Dervishes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The Greek made a sign to Stasch to do the same, but the boy pretended not to see this; he merely bowed, and remained standing.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
faces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Idris, Gebhr, and the two Bedouins fell on their faces and then knelt with their hands on their chests.
fanning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
feathers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Idris, Gebhr, and the two Bedouins fell on their faces and then knelt with their hands on their chests.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
forwarding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
Gebhr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Idris, Gebhr, and the two Bedouins fell on their faces and then knelt with their hands on their chests.
Greek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Greek made a sign to Stasch to do the same, but the boy pretended not to see this; he merely bowed, and remained standing.
Hammed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading Idris, Gebhr, and the two Bedouins fell on their faces and then knelt with their hands on their chests.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the prophet saw the newcomers he pushed aside the women and sat up on the couch.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
Idris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Idris, Gebhr, and the two Bedouins fell on their faces and then knelt with their hands on their chests.
knelt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Idris, Gebhr, and the two Bedouins fell on their faces and then knelt with their hands on their chests.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Greek made a sign to Stasch to do the same, but the boy pretended not to see this; he merely bowed, and remained standing.
Mahdi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
merely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Greek made a sign to Stasch to do the same, but the boy pretended not to see this; he merely bowed, and remained standing.
newcomers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the prophet saw the newcomers he pushed aside the women and sat up on the couch.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
north
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Greek made a sign to Stasch to do the same, but the boy pretended not to see this; he merely bowed, and remained standing.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
ostrich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
pretended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Greek made a sign to Stasch to do the same, but the boy pretended not to see this; he merely bowed, and remained standing.
prophet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the prophet saw the newcomers he pushed aside the women and sat up on the couch.
pushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the prophet saw the newcomers he pushed aside the women and sat up on the couch.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The Greek made a sign to Stasch to do the same, but the boy pretended not to see this; he merely bowed, and remained standing.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Greek made a sign to Stasch to do the same, but the boy pretended not to see this; he merely bowed, and remained standing.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the prophet saw the newcomers he pushed aside the women and sat up on the couch.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Greek made a sign to Stasch to do the same, but the boy pretended not to see this; he merely bowed, and remained standing.
Sherif
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
sign
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Greek made a sign to Stasch to do the same, but the boy pretended not to see this; he merely bowed, and remained standing.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
soldiers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The Greek made a sign to Stasch to do the same, but the boy pretended not to see this; he merely bowed, and remained standing.
Stasch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Greek made a sign to Stasch to do the same, but the boy pretended not to see this; he merely bowed, and remained standing.
surrounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Idris, Gebhr, and the two Bedouins fell on their faces and then knelt with their hands on their chests.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Idris, Gebhr, and the two Bedouins fell on their faces and then knelt with their hands on their chests.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
thirdnounUS /third/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the prophet saw the newcomers he pushed aside the women and sat up on the couch.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No one else was with him except Calif Abdullah and Calif Sherif; for the third calif, Ali-uled-Helu, was at this time forwarding soldiers to the north, to Barbary, and to Abu Hammed, places already captured by the Dervishes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
wives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they entered the room they saw the Mahdi lying on a soft couch, surrounded by his wives, two of whom were fanning him with large ostrich feathers.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the prophet saw the newcomers he pushed aside the women and sat up on the couch.
