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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was slowly and confusedly that I regained some degree of consciousness.
asleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
blackness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
catastrophes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
compounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
confusedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was slowly and confusedly that I regained some degree of consciousness.
conjured
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From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
consciousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was slowly and confusedly that I regained some degree of consciousness.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
degree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was slowly and confusedly that I regained some degree of consciousness.
dreamnounUS /driːm/
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
duration
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
dwelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
Eternity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
fancy
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From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
haunted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
hideous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
horizon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was no more.
imagination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
lasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
morbid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was no more.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
nihility
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading I was no more.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
propensity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
regained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was slowly and confusedly that I regained some degree of consciousness.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
shape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was slowly and confusedly that I regained some degree of consciousness.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was slowly and confusedly that I regained some degree of consciousness.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
started
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
swoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was slowly and confusedly that I regained some degree of consciousness.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was no more.
wheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/
at any time that; every time that
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
