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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
ache
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading My first conscious sensation after the blow felled me was as singular as it was unpleasant.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading My first conscious sensation after the blow felled me was as singular as it was unpleasant.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
blow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My first conscious sensation after the blow felled me was as singular as it was unpleasant.
blows
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From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
cease
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From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
conscious
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From this reading My first conscious sensation after the blow felled me was as singular as it was unpleasant.
cry
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From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
curiously
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From this reading Next I felt something touch my hand with a curiously restless movement.
deadening
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From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
decreased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
equallynounUS /ˈequally/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
ESCAPE
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From this reading ESCAPE.
excruciating
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From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
felled
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From this reading My first conscious sensation after the blow felled me was as singular as it was unpleasant.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next I felt something touch my hand with a curiously restless movement.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My first conscious sensation after the blow felled me was as singular as it was unpleasant.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
hammering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next I felt something touch my hand with a curiously restless movement.
head
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From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
helpless
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From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
huge
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From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
impish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
intolerable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
invisible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading My first conscious sensation after the blow felled me was as singular as it was unpleasant.
lasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My first conscious sensation after the blow felled me was as singular as it was unpleasant.
movement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next I felt something touch my hand with a curiously restless movement.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My first conscious sensation after the blow felled me was as singular as it was unpleasant.
NextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Next I felt something touch my hand with a curiously restless movement.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
pain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
producing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
quick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
restless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next I felt something touch my hand with a curiously restless movement.
rhythmic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
sensation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My first conscious sensation after the blow felled me was as singular as it was unpleasant.
sharpness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
sickening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
singular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My first conscious sensation after the blow felled me was as singular as it was unpleasant.
smiths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Next I felt something touch my hand with a curiously restless movement.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading My first conscious sensation after the blow felled me was as singular as it was unpleasant.
throb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
throbbing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
tongue-tied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
torturers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
touch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next I felt something touch my hand with a curiously restless movement.
unpleasant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My first conscious sensation after the blow felled me was as singular as it was unpleasant.
violence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My first conscious sensation after the blow felled me was as singular as it was unpleasant.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading After a time the throbbing sensation decreased in violence; but while the sharpness of the pain of each throb was less, it lasted longer, producing a deadening sickening ache, which was equally intolerable.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
yearned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seemed to be nothing but one huge head on which a hundred invisible smiths were hammering with quick, rhythmic blows, each of which gave me such excruciating pain that I yearned to cry out to the impish torturers to cease, but was tongue-tied and helpless.
