Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
1617
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading You might have thought him a body resurrected from the grave.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
age
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
arm-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
aspect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
bald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
bedroom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You might have thought him a body resurrected from the grave.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Devotion had cast a monastic tone upon the face, formerly so hard, but now marked with tints which softened its expression.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
cast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Devotion had cast a monastic tone upon the face, formerly so hard, but now marked with tints which softened its expression.
color
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
d'Herouville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
decrepit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
Devotion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Devotion had cast a monastic tone upon the face, formerly so hard, but now marked with tints which softened its expression.
Duc
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
energetic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
Etienne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
expression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Devotion had cast a monastic tone upon the face, formerly so hard, but now marked with tints which softened its expression.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The warrior and the fanatic still shone in those yellow eyes, tempered now by religious sentiment.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
fanatic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The warrior and the fanatic still shone in those yellow eyes, tempered now by religious sentiment.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
formerly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Devotion had cast a monastic tone upon the face, formerly so hard, but now marked with tints which softened its expression.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading You might have thought him a body resurrected from the grave.
ghastly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
gothic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
grave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You might have thought him a body resurrected from the grave.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Devotion had cast a monastic tone upon the face, formerly so hard, but now marked with tints which softened its expression.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You might have thought him a body resurrected from the grave.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
heaven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading You might have thought him a body resurrected from the grave.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
horn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
horrible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
immense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
implored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
marked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Devotion had cast a monastic tone upon the face, formerly so hard, but now marked with tints which softened its expression.
matching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
meshes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading You might have thought him a body resurrected from the grave.
monastic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Devotion had cast a monastic tone upon the face, formerly so hard, but now marked with tints which softened its expression.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The warrior and the fanatic still shone in those yellow eyes, tempered now by religious sentiment.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
religious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The warrior and the fanatic still shone in those yellow eyes, tempered now by religious sentiment.
resurrected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You might have thought him a body resurrected from the grave.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
sentiment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The warrior and the fanatic still shone in those yellow eyes, tempered now by religious sentiment.
seventy-six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
shone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The warrior and the fanatic still shone in those yellow eyes, tempered now by religious sentiment.
sinister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
skull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
softened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Devotion had cast a monastic tone upon the face, formerly so hard, but now marked with tints which softened its expression.
softening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
sounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The warrior and the fanatic still shone in those yellow eyes, tempered now by religious sentiment.
stripped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
suffering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
sunset
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
tempered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The warrior and the fanatic still shone in those yellow eyes, tempered now by religious sentiment.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The warrior and the fanatic still shone in those yellow eyes, tempered now by religious sentiment.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You might have thought him a body resurrected from the grave.
tints
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Devotion had cast a monastic tone upon the face, formerly so hard, but now marked with tints which softened its expression.
tone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Devotion had cast a monastic tone upon the face, formerly so hard, but now marked with tints which softened its expression.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Devotion had cast a monastic tone upon the face, formerly so hard, but now marked with tints which softened its expression.
vainly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
warrior
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The warrior and the fanatic still shone in those yellow eyes, tempered now by religious sentiment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
wasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Devotion had cast a monastic tone upon the face, formerly so hard, but now marked with tints which softened its expression.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1617, twenty and some years after the horrible night during which Etienne came into the world, the Duc d’Herouville, then seventy-six years old, broken, decrepit, almost dead, was sitting at sunset in an immense arm-chair, before the gothic window of his bedroom, at the place where his wife had so vainly implored, by the sounds of the horn wasted on the air, the help of men and heaven.
yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His once energetic face, stripped of its sinister aspect by old age and suffering, was ghastly in color, matching the long meshes of white hair which fell around his bald head, the yellow skull of which seemed softening.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You might have thought him a body resurrected from the grave.
