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 For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
absence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes it seemed to him that he did not suffer at all; and he was terrified at this very absence of suffering.
active
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then again he had hours and days of a dull despair, which was worse than any more active form of suffering.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then again he had hours and days of a dull despair, which was worse than any more active form of suffering.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes it seemed to him that he did not suffer at all; and he was terrified at this very absence of suffering.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then again he had hours and days of a dull despair, which was worse than any more active form of suffering.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He did not suffer as he had expected.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Sometimes it seemed to him that he did not suffer at all; and he was terrified at this very absence of suffering.
automaton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
caves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then again he had hours and days of a dull despair, which was worse than any more active form of suffering.
deserts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
despair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then again he had hours and days of a dull despair, which was worse than any more active form of suffering.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not suffer as he had expected.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then again he had hours and days of a dull despair, which was worse than any more active form of suffering.
expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not suffer as he had expected.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
form
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then again he had hours and days of a dull despair, which was worse than any more active form of suffering.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
grief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not suffer as he had expected.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Sometimes it seemed to him that he did not suffer at all; and he was terrified at this very absence of suffering.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then again he had hours and days of a dull despair, which was worse than any more active form of suffering.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Sometimes it seemed to him that he did not suffer at all; and he was terrified at this very absence of suffering.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
lives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
Mercy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then again he had hours and days of a dull despair, which was worse than any more active form of suffering.
movements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not suffer as he had expected.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
olden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
possibility
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
Sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes it seemed to him that he did not suffer at all; and he was terrified at this very absence of suffering.
stagnant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
Stephen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
stop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
suffer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not suffer as he had expected.
suffering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes it seemed to him that he did not suffer at all; and he was terrified at this very absence of suffering.
terrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/
extremely frightened
From this reading Sometimes it seemed to him that he did not suffer at all; and he was terrified at this very absence of suffering.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Then again he had hours and days of a dull despair, which was worse than any more active form of suffering.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Sometimes it seemed to him that he did not suffer at all; and he was terrified at this very absence of suffering.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then again he had hours and days of a dull despair, which was worse than any more active form of suffering.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Sometimes it seemed to him that he did not suffer at all; and he was terrified at this very absence of suffering.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
understood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes it seemed to him that he did not suffer at all; and he was terrified at this very absence of suffering.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sometimes it seemed to him that he did not suffer at all; and he was terrified at this very absence of suffering.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
withdrawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he understood, he thought, how in the olden time men had often withdrawn themselves from the world after some great grief, and had lived long, stagnant lives in deserts and caves.
worse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then again he had hours and days of a dull despair, which was worse than any more active form of suffering.
wound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few months after Mercy went away, Stephen seemed to himself to be like an automaton, which had been wound up to go through certain movements for a certain length of time, and could by no possibility stop.
