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 WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
affected
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From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the moment of their restoration, the blind have had one glimpse of light, flashing on them in an overpowering gleam of brightness, which the thickest, closest veiling cannot extinguish.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But between the awful blank of total privation of vision, and the temporary blank of vision merely veiled, there lies the widest difference.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
awful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But between the awful blank of total privation of vision, and the temporary blank of vision merely veiled, there lies the widest difference.
bandage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading But between the awful blank of total privation of vision, and the temporary blank of vision merely veiled, there lies the widest difference.
blank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But between the awful blank of total privation of vision, and the temporary blank of vision merely veiled, there lies the widest difference.
blind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
brightness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the moment of their restoration, the blind have had one glimpse of light, flashing on them in an overpowering gleam of brightness, which the thickest, closest veiling cannot extinguish.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But between the awful blank of total privation of vision, and the temporary blank of vision merely veiled, there lies the widest difference.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the moment of their restoration, the blind have had one glimpse of light, flashing on them in an overpowering gleam of brightness, which the thickest, closest veiling cannot extinguish.
closest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the moment of their restoration, the blind have had one glimpse of light, flashing on them in an overpowering gleam of brightness, which the thickest, closest veiling cannot extinguish.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
difference
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From this reading But between the awful blank of total privation of vision, and the temporary blank of vision merely veiled, there lies the widest difference.
extinguish
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From this reading In the moment of their restoration, the blind have had one glimpse of light, flashing on them in an overpowering gleam of brightness, which the thickest, closest veiling cannot extinguish.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
fatally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
flashing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the moment of their restoration, the blind have had one glimpse of light, flashing on them in an overpowering gleam of brightness, which the thickest, closest veiling cannot extinguish.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
gleam
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From this reading In the moment of their restoration, the blind have had one glimpse of light, flashing on them in an overpowering gleam of brightness, which the thickest, closest veiling cannot extinguish.
glimpse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the moment of their restoration, the blind have had one glimpse of light, flashing on them in an overpowering gleam of brightness, which the thickest, closest veiling cannot extinguish.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the moment of their restoration, the blind have had one glimpse of light, flashing on them in an overpowering gleam of brightness, which the thickest, closest veiling cannot extinguish.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In the moment of their restoration, the blind have had one glimpse of light, flashing on them in an overpowering gleam of brightness, which the thickest, closest veiling cannot extinguish.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I.
immediately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
lestconjunctionUS /lest/
in order that something should not happen
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
lies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But between the awful blank of total privation of vision, and the temporary blank of vision merely veiled, there lies the widest difference.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
merely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But between the awful blank of total privation of vision, and the temporary blank of vision merely veiled, there lies the widest difference.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the moment of their restoration, the blind have had one glimpse of light, flashing on them in an overpowering gleam of brightness, which the thickest, closest veiling cannot extinguish.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In the moment of their restoration, the blind have had one glimpse of light, flashing on them in an overpowering gleam of brightness, which the thickest, closest veiling cannot extinguish.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
operated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
overpowering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the moment of their restoration, the blind have had one glimpse of light, flashing on them in an overpowering gleam of brightness, which the thickest, closest veiling cannot extinguish.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
privation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But between the awful blank of total privation of vision, and the temporary blank of vision merely veiled, there lies the widest difference.
prospect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
recovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
restoration
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
shuts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
succouring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
temporary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But between the awful blank of total privation of vision, and the temporary blank of vision merely veiled, there lies the widest difference.
tenderness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In the moment of their restoration, the blind have had one glimpse of light, flashing on them in an overpowering gleam of brightness, which the thickest, closest veiling cannot extinguish.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But between the awful blank of total privation of vision, and the temporary blank of vision merely veiled, there lies the widest difference.
thickest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the moment of their restoration, the blind have had one glimpse of light, flashing on them in an overpowering gleam of brightness, which the thickest, closest veiling cannot extinguish.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
total
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But between the awful blank of total privation of vision, and the temporary blank of vision merely veiled, there lies the widest difference.
transition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bandage is passed over the eyes, lest in the first tenderness of the recovered sense, it should be fatally affected by the sudden transition from darkness to light.
veiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But between the awful blank of total privation of vision, and the temporary blank of vision merely veiled, there lies the widest difference.
veiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the moment of their restoration, the blind have had one glimpse of light, flashing on them in an overpowering gleam of brightness, which the thickest, closest veiling cannot extinguish.
visible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
vision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But between the awful blank of total privation of vision, and the temporary blank of vision merely veiled, there lies the widest difference.
WHENconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
widest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But between the awful blank of total privation of vision, and the temporary blank of vision merely veiled, there lies the widest difference.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN the blind are operated on for the restoration of sight, the same succouring hand which has opened to them the visible world, immediately shuts out the bright prospect again, for a time.
