Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Innocent
Innocent

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for Innocent
Context Illustration Reading 1/86 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ABOUT ANOTHER MARRIAGE.
Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
He did not seem to know what he was about.
Whatever he did was done mechanically.
He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Innocent

Chapter XVII

Reading 1/86 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
ABOUT ANOTHER MARRIAGE.
Line 2
Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
Line 3
He did not seem to know what he was about.
Line 4
Whatever he did was done mechanically.
Line 5
He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

Learner Dictionary

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

ABOUT preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “ABOUT ANOTHER MARRIAGE.”

ANOTHER noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “ABOUT ANOTHER MARRIAGE.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Whatever he did was done mechanically.”

Dream noun US /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading “Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He did not seem to know what he was about.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.”

Mechanically noun US /ˈmechanically/

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

From this reading “Whatever he did was done mechanically.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.”

Nights noun US /naɪts/

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading “He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.”

Smoking noun US /ˈsmoking/

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

From this reading “He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.”

Strangely noun US /ˈstrangely/

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

From this reading “Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.”

Thinking noun US /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.”

Whatever determiner US /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading “Whatever he did was done mechanically.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.”

All words in this reading · 79

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 Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

ABOUTprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading ABOUT ANOTHER MARRIAGE.

all

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

ANOTHERnounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading ABOUT ANOTHER MARRIAGE.

appeared

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

cigars

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

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

club

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

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

days

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

declined

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

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading He did not seem to know what he was about.

disturbed

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Whatever he did was done mechanically.

dreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

engagements

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

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

entertainment

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

evening's

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

Frederick

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

gone

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

greater

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

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He did not seem to know what he was about.

helter-skelter

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

home

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

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

hurrying

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

incidents

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He did not seem to know what he was about.

library

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

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

MARRIAGE

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

From this reading ABOUT ANOTHER MARRIAGE.

mechanically

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

From this reading Whatever he did was done mechanically.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

nightsnounUS /naɪts/

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He did not seem to know what he was about.

number

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

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

other

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

own

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

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

raced

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

room

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

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

seem

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

From this reading He did not seem to know what he was about.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

shut

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

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/

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

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

soon

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

state

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

strangelynounUS /ˈstrangely/

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

thinkingnounUS /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

up

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

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

well

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He did not seem to know what he was about.

WhateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading Whatever he did was done mechanically.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

years

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

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.