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Georgina's Reasons
Georgina's Reasons

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Georgina's Reasons
Context Illustration Reading 1/75 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.
But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.
He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.
In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.
Of course, in fact, he never expressed it; there were plenty of good reasons for that.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Georgina's Reasons

Chapter I

Reading 1/75 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.
Line 2
But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.
Line 3
He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.
Line 4
In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.
Line 5
Of course, in fact, he never expressed it; there were plenty of good reasons for that.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of course, in fact, he never expressed it; there were plenty of good reasons for that.”

Distress noun US /dɪˈstrɛs/

extreme sadness or suffering

From this reading “He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of course, in fact, he never expressed it; there were plenty of good reasons for that.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.”

Point noun US /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading “In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.”

Reasons noun US /ˈreasons/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Of course, in fact, he never expressed it; there were plenty of good reasons for that.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.”

Understand noun US /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.”

All words in this reading · 104

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 was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

acuteness

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

amounted

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

away

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

better

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

break

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

called

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.

certainly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

charm

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

circumstances

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

conjure

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Of course, in fact, he never expressed it; there were plenty of good reasons for that.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

distressnounUS /dɪˈstrɛs/

extreme sadness or suffering

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

end

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

expressed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of course, in fact, he never expressed it; there were plenty of good reasons for that.

expressing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.

fact

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of course, in fact, he never expressed it; there were plenty of good reasons for that.

feel

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.

felt

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

foreboding

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.

form

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

Georgina

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.

girl

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Of course, in fact, he never expressed it; there were plenty of good reasons for that.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

impossible

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

impression

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.

intimate

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

later

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.

made

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

morally

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

n't

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

neuralgia

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

occasions

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

off

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.

once

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

other

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

pleasure

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

plenty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of course, in fact, he never expressed it; there were plenty of good reasons for that.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.

positive

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Of course, in fact, he never expressed it; there were plenty of good reasons for that.

remembered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.

resist

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

see

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

sense

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

shot

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

singular

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

singularity

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

speaking

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

strange

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

surprising

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

there

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of course, in fact, he never expressed it; there were plenty of good reasons for that.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.

three

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

times

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

twinge

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

two

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.

understandnounUS /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading She was certainly a singular girl, and if he felt at the end that he did n’t know her nor understand her, it is not surprising that he should have felt it at the beginning.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Of course, in fact, he never expressed it; there were plenty of good reasons for that.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading But he felt at the beginning what he did not feel at the end, that her singularity took the form of a charm which--once circumstances had made them so intimate--it was impossible to resist or conjure away.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He had a strange impression (it amounted at times to a positive distress, and shot through the sense of pleasure--morally speaking--with the acuteness of a sudden twinge of neuralgia) that it would be better for each of them that they should break off short and never see each other again.

years

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In later years he called this feeling a foreboding, and remembered two or three occasions when he had been on the point of expressing it to Georgina.