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 CLEAR SKY--AND A THUNDERBOLT.
acquaintance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CLEAR SKY--AND A THUNDERBOLT.
anxious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
asks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
brilliantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
chiefly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
CLEAR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLEAR SKY--AND A THUNDERBOLT.
cobweb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
concerned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
danger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
Eliot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
elude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
engagement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
George
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
happiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
Hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
intolerable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
iridescence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
losing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
Mabel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
Mark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
metaphor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
Middlemarch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
particularly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
pill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
pilulous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
pinchednounUS /ˈpinched/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
pre-matrimonial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
press
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
rolled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
shone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
silken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
SKY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLEAR SKY--AND A THUNDERBOLT.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
smallness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 'Has any one,' asks George Eliot, in 'Middlemarch,' 'ever pinched into its pilulous smallness the cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintance?'
THUNDERBOLT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLEAR SKY--AND A THUNDERBOLT.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
torture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
uneasy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The idea of losing Mabel became day by day, as he knew her better, a more intolerable torture, and he could not rest until all danger of that was at an end.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mark was anxious that his engagement should be as short as possible, chiefly from an uneasy fear that his great happiness might elude him after all.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading And, to press the metaphor, the cobweb, as far as Mark and Mabel were concerned, brilliantly as it shone in all its silken iridescence, would have rolled up into a particularly small pill.
