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Without a Home
Without a Home

Chapter XXII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A SLAVE The physician was right.
A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.
Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.
For a month or two past he had been swept almost unresistingly down the darkening and deepening current of his sin.
Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Without a Home

Chapter XXII

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A SLAVE The physician was right.
Line 2
A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.
Line 3
Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.
Line 4
For a month or two past he had been swept almost unresistingly down the darkening and deepening current of his sin.
Line 5
Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.”

Current noun US /ˈcurrent/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “For a month or two past he had been swept almost unresistingly down the darkening and deepening current of his sin.”

Dreadful adjective US /ˈdrɛdfəl/

extremely frightening or unpleasant

From this reading “Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A SLAVE The physician was right.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.”

Whenever conjunction US /weˈnevər/

at any time that; every time that

From this reading “Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.”

All words in this reading · 107

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 A SLAVE The physician was right.

abject

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

accord

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

actualities

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

allowance

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

almost

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For a month or two past he had been swept almost unresistingly down the darkening and deepening current of his sin.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

aware

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

became

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

characteristic

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

city

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

condition

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

currentnounUS /ˈcurrent/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading For a month or two past he had been swept almost unresistingly down the darkening and deepening current of his sin.

darkening

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For a month or two past he had been swept almost unresistingly down the darkening and deepening current of his sin.

deepening

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For a month or two past he had been swept almost unresistingly down the darkening and deepening current of his sin.

desire

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

dimly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

down

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For a month or two past he had been swept almost unresistingly down the darkening and deepening current of his sin.

dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdrɛdfəl/

extremely frightening or unpleasant

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

dreams

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

drug

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

effort

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

emergency

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

EvennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

excitement

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

extremes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

facing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

false

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

family

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

feeble

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

following

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

full

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

gave

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

gradually

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

grew

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading For a month or two past he had been swept almost unresistingly down the darkening and deepening current of his sin.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

hotel

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

inspired

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

instinctive

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

irritable

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

Jocelyn

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

made

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

manner

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

miserable

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

month

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For a month or two past he had been swept almost unresistingly down the darkening and deepening current of his sin.

more

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

Mr

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

noted

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

obscure

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

opium

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading For a month or two past he had been swept almost unresistingly down the darkening and deepening current of his sin.

painful

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

past

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For a month or two past he had been swept almost unresistingly down the darkening and deepening current of his sin.

perplexed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

physician

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A SLAVE The physician was right.

pitiable

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

reduce

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A SLAVE The physician was right.

room

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

scarcely

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

shaped

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

sin

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For a month or two past he had been swept almost unresistingly down the darkening and deepening current of his sin.

SLAVE

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A SLAVE The physician was right.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

solicitude

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From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

solitude

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From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

some

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From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

spectacle

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From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

swept

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From this reading For a month or two past he had been swept almost unresistingly down the darkening and deepening current of his sin.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading A SLAVE The physician was right.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

thoughts

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From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

two

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From this reading For a month or two past he had been swept almost unresistingly down the darkening and deepening current of his sin.

unfortunates

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From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

unnatural

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From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

unresistingly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For a month or two past he had been swept almost unresistingly down the darkening and deepening current of his sin.

up

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From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

vacillating

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From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

varied

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From this reading A more abject and pitiable spectacle than Mr. Jocelyn could scarcely have been found among the miserable unfortunates of a city noted for its extremes in varied condition.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading A SLAVE The physician was right.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

WheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/

at any time that; every time that

From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Even in his false excitement he was dimly aware that he was facing a dreadful emergency, and following an instinctive desire for solitude so characteristic of those in his condition, he took a room in an obscure hotel and gave himself up to thoughts that grew more and more painful as the unnatural dreams inspired by opium shaped themselves gradually into accord with the actualities of his life.

wonder

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From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.

wretched

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Whenever he made some feeble, vacillating effort to reduce his allowance of the drug, he became so wretched, irritable, and unnatural in manner that his family were full of perplexed wonder and solicitude.