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 A TEMPEST IN A BRAIN.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We have already looked into the depths of this conscience, and the moment has arrived to look into them again.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We have already looked into the depths of this conscience, and the moment has arrived to look into them again.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We have already looked into the depths of this conscience, and the moment has arrived to look into them again.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
arrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have already looked into the depths of this conscience, and the moment has arrived to look into them again.
BRAIN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TEMPEST IN A BRAIN.
brilliancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
complicated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
consciencenounUS /ˈkɑːnʃəns/
the inner sense of right and wrong
From this reading We have already looked into the depths of this conscience, and the moment has arrived to look into them again.
contemplation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We do not do this without emotion or tremor, for there is nothing more terrifying than this species of contemplation.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The reader has, of course, guessed that M. Madeleine is Jean Valjean.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
depths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have already looked into the depths of this conscience, and the moment has arrived to look into them again.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading We do not do this without emotion or tremor, for there is nothing more terrifying than this species of contemplation.
dwell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
emotion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We do not do this without emotion or tremor, for there is nothing more terrifying than this species of contemplation.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We do not do this without emotion or tremor, for there is nothing more terrifying than this species of contemplation.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmɪdəbəl/
very difficult to deal with or overcome
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
greater
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
guessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reader has, of course, guessed that M. Madeleine is Jean Valjean.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The reader has, of course, guessed that M. Madeleine is Jean Valjean.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We have already looked into the depths of this conscience, and the moment has arrived to look into them again.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A TEMPEST IN A BRAIN.
infinite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading We have already looked into the depths of this conscience, and the moment has arrived to look into them again.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The reader has, of course, guessed that M. Madeleine is Jean Valjean.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
Jean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reader has, of course, guessed that M. Madeleine is Jean Valjean.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We have already looked into the depths of this conscience, and the moment has arrived to look into them again.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We have already looked into the depths of this conscience, and the moment has arrived to look into them again.
M
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reader has, of course, guessed that M. Madeleine is Jean Valjean.
Madeleine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reader has, of course, guessed that M. Madeleine is Jean Valjean.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
mental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have already looked into the depths of this conscience, and the moment has arrived to look into them again.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We do not do this without emotion or tremor, for there is nothing more terrifying than this species of contemplation.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
difficult to explain or understand
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We do not do this without emotion or tremor, for there is nothing more terrifying than this species of contemplation.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading We do not do this without emotion or tremor, for there is nothing more terrifying than this species of contemplation.
nowhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The reader has, of course, guessed that M. Madeleine is Jean Valjean.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading We do not do this without emotion or tremor, for there is nothing more terrifying than this species of contemplation.
reader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reader has, of course, guessed that M. Madeleine is Jean Valjean.
species
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We do not do this without emotion or tremor, for there is nothing more terrifying than this species of contemplation.
TEMPEST
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TEMPEST IN A BRAIN.
terrifying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We do not do this without emotion or tremor, for there is nothing more terrifying than this species of contemplation.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading We do not do this without emotion or tremor, for there is nothing more terrifying than this species of contemplation.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The reader has, of course, guessed that M. Madeleine is Jean Valjean.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The reader has, of course, guessed that M. Madeleine is Jean Valjean.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading We have already looked into the depths of this conscience, and the moment has arrived to look into them again.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We do not do this without emotion or tremor, for there is nothing more terrifying than this species of contemplation.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading We have already looked into the depths of this conscience, and the moment has arrived to look into them again.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We have already looked into the depths of this conscience, and the moment has arrived to look into them again.
tremor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We do not do this without emotion or tremor, for there is nothing more terrifying than this species of contemplation.
Valjean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reader has, of course, guessed that M. Madeleine is Jean Valjean.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We have already looked into the depths of this conscience, and the moment has arrived to look into them again.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The mental eye can nowhere find greater brilliancy or greater darkness than within man; it cannot dwell on anything which is more formidable, complicated, mysterious, or infinite.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading We do not do this without emotion or tremor, for there is nothing more terrifying than this species of contemplation.
