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 The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
artistic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
become
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From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
bright
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From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
caprice
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From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
cheeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Could one hope ever to come to an understanding with that extraordinary passion?
Couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Could one hope ever to come to an understanding with that extraordinary passion?
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
emotion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Could one hope ever to come to an understanding with that extraordinary passion?
expressed
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From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
extraordinary
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From this reading Could one hope ever to come to an understanding with that extraordinary passion?
eyes
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From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
fanaticism
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From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
flushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
force
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From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
Frenhofer
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From this reading Was Frenhofer sane or mad?
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
gestation
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From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
gleamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Could one hope ever to come to an understanding with that extraordinary passion?
ideas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
mad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was Frenhofer sane or mad?
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
novel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Could one hope ever to come to an understanding with that extraordinary passion?
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Was Frenhofer sane or mad?
pale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
passion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Could one hope ever to come to an understanding with that extraordinary passion?
passionate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
Porbus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
proceed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
produced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
profound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
reply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
sane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was Frenhofer sane or mad?
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
shook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
spell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
spoken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
surprisednounUS /surprised/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
understanding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Could one hope ever to come to an understanding with that extraordinary passion?
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was Frenhofer sane or mad?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Porbus, surprised by the passionate force with which the words were spoken, did not know what reply to make to an emotion no less novel than profound.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he under the spell of an artistic caprice, or did the ideas which he had expressed proceed from that strange fanaticism produced in us by the long gestation of a great work?
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man seemed to have become young again; his eyes gleamed with life; his pale cheeks flushed a bright red, and his hands shook.
