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 His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading And when she was out of his sight, what would be his dread about her?
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All the privacy and sacredness of their intercourse was gone, even if, as was doubtful, he was ever allowed to have her again.
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the privacy and sacredness of their intercourse was gone, even if, as was doubtful, he was ever allowed to have her again.
allowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the privacy and sacredness of their intercourse was gone, even if, as was doubtful, he was ever allowed to have her again.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
anger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All the privacy and sacredness of their intercourse was gone, even if, as was doubtful, he was ever allowed to have her again.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
begin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
blows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
crying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
doubtful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the privacy and sacredness of their intercourse was gone, even if, as was doubtful, he was ever allowed to have her again.
dread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And when she was out of his sight, what would be his dread about her?
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All the privacy and sacredness of their intercourse was gone, even if, as was doubtful, he was ever allowed to have her again.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
forced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
forever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the privacy and sacredness of their intercourse was gone, even if, as was doubtful, he was ever allowed to have her again.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading All the privacy and sacredness of their intercourse was gone, even if, as was doubtful, he was ever allowed to have her again.
impossibility
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
initiation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
intercourse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the privacy and sacredness of their intercourse was gone, even if, as was doubtful, he was ever allowed to have her again.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
lead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
murdering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
music
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
oppressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And when she was out of his sight, what would be his dread about her?
performing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
privacy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the privacy and sacredness of their intercourse was gone, even if, as was doubtful, he was ever allowed to have her again.
promising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
realized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
reassure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
recklessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
revengeful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
sacredness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the privacy and sacredness of their intercourse was gone, even if, as was doubtful, he was ever allowed to have her again.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And when she was out of his sight, what would be his dread about her?
sing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
soul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
starvation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
stop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
struggling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
terrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/
extremely frightened
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading All the privacy and sacredness of their intercourse was gone, even if, as was doubtful, he was ever allowed to have her again.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
threatened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
torture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading His heart felt like lead, when he realized that he would _have_ to give her up--that he would, in a few hours, now, at best, be forced to see her taken from him, struggling, crying, terrified, to begin her initiation into a life of torture, and that, when she left his arms, he could never take her back to them, in the same way, forever.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had been threatened with blows, starvation, and revengeful anger, if she ever tried to play or sing again--and to stop her music would seem to him like murdering her soul.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He said recklessly anything that he thought would reassure her, but, even while he spoke, he felt oppressed and terrified at the impossibility of performing what he was promising.
