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 It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
altar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
anniversary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
appealing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
arrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
assumed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
bowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
departed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Given the time that had passed, his recollection of her was fresh enough to make him wonder.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
faithfulnounUS /ˈfaithful/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
flitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
frequent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
fresh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Given the time that had passed, his recollection of her was fresh enough to make him wonder.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
Given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Given the time that had passed, his recollection of her was fresh enough to make him wonder.
graveyard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
haunted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Given the time that had passed, his recollection of her was fresh enough to make him wonder.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
identity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
intensely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Given the time that had passed, his recollection of her was fresh enough to make him wonder.
observe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
observed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
occasion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
Others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
particular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
possession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
promptitude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
recognition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
recollection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Given the time that had passed, his recollection of her was fresh enough to make him wonder.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
surprisednounUS /surprised/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
tragic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
unfailing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
vague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
vision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Others of the faithful, and in the rest of the church, came and went, appealing sometimes, when they disappeared, to a vague or to a particular recognition; but this unfailing presence was always to be observed when he arrived and still in possession when he departed.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Given the time that had passed, his recollection of her was fresh enough to make him wonder.
worshipper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on this occasion, as it happened, after a year had passed, that he began to observe his altar to be haunted by a worshipper at least as frequent as himself.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every year, the day he walked back from the great graveyard, he went to church as he had done the day his idea was born.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was surprised, the first time, at the promptitude with which it assumed an identity for him—the identity of the lady whom two years before, on his anniversary, he had seen so intensely bowed, and of whose tragic face he had had so flitting a vision.
