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 “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They laid Father Goriot upon his wretched bed with reverent hands.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
cerebral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
cheated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
consciousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
criednounUS /cried/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
destroyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
distinguishes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
exclamation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
expression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
extinguished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
Father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They laid Father Goriot upon his wretched bed with reverent hands.
father's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
fled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
forth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
ghastly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
Goriot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They laid Father Goriot upon his wretched bed with reverent hands.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading They laid Father Goriot upon his wretched bed with reverent hands.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
height
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
inarticulate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
involuntary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
joy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They laid Father Goriot upon his wretched bed with reverent hands.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
lies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
lips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
machine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
mechanism
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
melted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
murmurs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
pain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
painful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
pleasure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
PoornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
raised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
reverent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They laid Father Goriot upon his wretched bed with reverent hands.
shaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
sigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
soul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
struggle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
sublime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
summed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
Sylvie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
Thenceforward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Poor dear!” cried Sylvie, melted by that exclamation; the expression of the great love raised for the last time to a sublime height by that most ghastly and involuntary of lies.
traces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
Two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading They laid Father Goriot upon his wretched bed with reverent hands.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The father’s last breath must have been a sigh of joy, and in that sigh his whole life was summed up; he was cheated even at the last.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two words, two inarticulate murmurs, shaped into words by the soul which fled forth with them as they left his lips.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Thenceforward there was no expression on his face, only the painful traces of the struggle between life and death that was going on in the machine; for that kind of cerebral consciousness that distinguishes between pleasure and pain in a human being was extinguished; it was only a question of time--and the mechanism itself would be destroyed.
wretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They laid Father Goriot upon his wretched bed with reverent hands.
