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 She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
all
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From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
anxious
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From this reading She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as by a conjuring-trick, Blessington had appeared with her comforting presence that quite robbed the dark of its terrors.
Archie
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From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
asleep
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From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
awoke
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From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
Blessington
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From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Then, as by a conjuring-trick, Blessington had appeared with her comforting presence that quite robbed the dark of its terrors.
candle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
Certain
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From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
childhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
clouds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
comforting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as by a conjuring-trick, Blessington had appeared with her comforting presence that quite robbed the dark of its terrors.
conjuring-trick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as by a conjuring-trick, Blessington had appeared with her comforting presence that quite robbed the dark of its terrors.
crib
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
dazzled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
desolation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
dim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
divinely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
doubt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
earliest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
finding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
germinate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
immense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
invader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Then, as by a conjuring-trick, Blessington had appeared with her comforting presence that quite robbed the dark of its terrors.
leaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
lifted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
midst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
nurse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
peaks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
pictures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
power
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as by a conjuring-trick, Blessington had appeared with her comforting presence that quite robbed the dark of its terrors.
pressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then, as by a conjuring-trick, Blessington had appeared with her comforting presence that quite robbed the dark of its terrors.
reassuring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
robbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as by a conjuring-trick, Blessington had appeared with her comforting presence that quite robbed the dark of its terrors.
scenes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
shrouded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
sides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
startnounUS /start/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
sunlit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
tender
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory.
terrors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as by a conjuring-trick, Blessington had appeared with her comforting presence that quite robbed the dark of its terrors.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as by a conjuring-trick, Blessington had appeared with her comforting presence that quite robbed the dark of its terrors.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate.
yelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled.
