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 BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
afraid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Consciousness was sweet and he was afraid to question it for fear of slipping back into nothingness.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
alike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As these sensations became stronger the questioning spirit would not be denied.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "What existence is this?" he asked himself.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
BACK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As these sensations became stronger the questioning spirit would not be denied.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As these sensations became stronger the questioning spirit would not be denied.
cloud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
Consciousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Consciousness was sweet and he was afraid to question it for fear of slipping back into nothingness.
denied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As these sensations became stronger the questioning spirit would not be denied.
EARTH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
Evan's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
existence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What existence is this?" he asked himself.
exulting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He lay exulting in his sensations.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Consciousness was sweet and he was afraid to question it for fear of slipping back into nothingness.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Consciousness was sweet and he was afraid to question it for fear of slipping back into nothingness.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What existence is this?" he asked himself.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "What existence is this?" he asked himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He lay exulting in his sensations.
impressions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He lay exulting in his sensations.
instrument
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Consciousness was sweet and he was afraid to question it for fear of slipping back into nothingness.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What existence is this?" he asked himself.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Consciousness was sweet and he was afraid to question it for fear of slipping back into nothingness.
kiss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He lay exulting in his sensations.
Like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
music
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As these sensations became stronger the questioning spirit would not be denied.
nothingness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Consciousness was sweet and he was afraid to question it for fear of slipping back into nothingness.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
photograph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Consciousness was sweet and he was afraid to question it for fear of slipping back into nothingness.
questioning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As these sensations became stronger the questioning spirit would not be denied.
scurrying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
sensations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He lay exulting in his sensations.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
slipping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Consciousness was sweet and he was afraid to question it for fear of slipping back into nothingness.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
spirit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As these sensations became stronger the questioning spirit would not be denied.
stronger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As these sensations became stronger the questioning spirit would not be denied.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
sweet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Consciousness was sweet and he was afraid to question it for fear of slipping back into nothingness.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading As these sensations became stronger the questioning spirit would not be denied.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "What existence is this?" he asked himself.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
torn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
underexposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
unrecognisable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
vague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Consciousness was sweet and he was afraid to question it for fear of slipping back into nothingness.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What existence is this?" he asked himself.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading As these sensations became stronger the questioning spirit would not be denied.
wrack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO EARTH Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.
