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 Perhaps it had lasted a second, the mental convulsion in which he looked in her eyes; he did not know.
acutely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found a seat and sank into it, staring at the sky and sea, acutely conscious of nothing but her nearness.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She approached--their gaze met--he had bowed, and passed her.
approached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She approached--their gaze met--he had bowed, and passed her.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He found a seat and sank into it, staring at the sky and sea, acutely conscious of nothing but her nearness.
beat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then he knew that, in the intensity of emotion that shook him body and brain, there was a thrill of joy, inexplicable but insistent.
bowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She approached--their gaze met--he had bowed, and passed her.
brain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he knew that, in the intensity of emotion that shook him body and brain, there was a thrill of joy, inexplicable but insistent.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He found a seat and sank into it, staring at the sky and sea, acutely conscious of nothing but her nearness.
conscious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found a seat and sank into it, staring at the sky and sea, acutely conscious of nothing but her nearness.
convulsion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it had lasted a second, the mental convulsion in which he looked in her eyes; he did not know.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
despair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Perhaps it had lasted a second, the mental convulsion in which he looked in her eyes; he did not know.
emotion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he knew that, in the intensity of emotion that shook him body and brain, there was a thrill of joy, inexplicable but insistent.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it had lasted a second, the mental convulsion in which he looked in her eyes; he did not know.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He found a seat and sank into it, staring at the sky and sea, acutely conscious of nothing but her nearness.
gaze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She approached--their gaze met--he had bowed, and passed her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She approached--their gaze met--he had bowed, and passed her.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She approached--their gaze met--he had bowed, and passed her.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She approached--their gaze met--he had bowed, and passed her.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Perhaps it had lasted a second, the mental convulsion in which he looked in her eyes; he did not know.
inexplicablenounUS /inexplicable/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then he knew that, in the intensity of emotion that shook him body and brain, there was a thrill of joy, inexplicable but insistent.
insistent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he knew that, in the intensity of emotion that shook him body and brain, there was a thrill of joy, inexplicable but insistent.
instant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
intensity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he knew that, in the intensity of emotion that shook him body and brain, there was a thrill of joy, inexplicable but insistent.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He found a seat and sank into it, staring at the sky and sea, acutely conscious of nothing but her nearness.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps it had lasted a second, the mental convulsion in which he looked in her eyes; he did not know.
joy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he knew that, in the intensity of emotion that shook him body and brain, there was a thrill of joy, inexplicable but insistent.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps it had lasted a second, the mental convulsion in which he looked in her eyes; he did not know.
lasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it had lasted a second, the mental convulsion in which he looked in her eyes; he did not know.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps it had lasted a second, the mental convulsion in which he looked in her eyes; he did not know.
mental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it had lasted a second, the mental convulsion in which he looked in her eyes; he did not know.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She approached--their gaze met--he had bowed, and passed her.
nearness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found a seat and sank into it, staring at the sky and sea, acutely conscious of nothing but her nearness.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Perhaps it had lasted a second, the mental convulsion in which he looked in her eyes; he did not know.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He found a seat and sank into it, staring at the sky and sea, acutely conscious of nothing but her nearness.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He found a seat and sank into it, staring at the sky and sea, acutely conscious of nothing but her nearness.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
palpitating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She approached--their gaze met--he had bowed, and passed her.
Perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it had lasted a second, the mental convulsion in which he looked in her eyes; he did not know.
rejoicing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
sank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found a seat and sank into it, staring at the sky and sea, acutely conscious of nothing but her nearness.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found a seat and sank into it, staring at the sky and sea, acutely conscious of nothing but her nearness.
seat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found a seat and sank into it, staring at the sky and sea, acutely conscious of nothing but her nearness.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it had lasted a second, the mental convulsion in which he looked in her eyes; he did not know.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She approached--their gaze met--he had bowed, and passed her.
shook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he knew that, in the intensity of emotion that shook him body and brain, there was a thrill of joy, inexplicable but insistent.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found a seat and sank into it, staring at the sky and sea, acutely conscious of nothing but her nearness.
staring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found a seat and sank into it, staring at the sky and sea, acutely conscious of nothing but her nearness.
swayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Perhaps it had lasted a second, the mental convulsion in which he looked in her eyes; he did not know.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She approached--their gaze met--he had bowed, and passed her.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he knew that, in the intensity of emotion that shook him body and brain, there was a thrill of joy, inexplicable but insistent.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he knew that, in the intensity of emotion that shook him body and brain, there was a thrill of joy, inexplicable but insistent.
thrill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he knew that, in the intensity of emotion that shook him body and brain, there was a thrill of joy, inexplicable but insistent.
vivid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Perhaps it had lasted a second, the mental convulsion in which he looked in her eyes; he did not know.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not tell whether it was despair or rejoicing that beat in him; he knew nothing but that the world had swayed, that life was in an instant palpitating and vivid--that he had seen her!
