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 She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She had had him with her for two whole days--two days to be set against eight years!
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
All-merciful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Guy and his mother were together.
apparently
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From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
arm
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From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
barrier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She had had him with her for two whole days--two days to be set against eight years!
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
brief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
collapsed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
completenounUS /complete/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had had him with her for two whole days--two days to be set against eight years!
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
dressing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
eight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had had him with her for two whole days--two days to be set against eight years!
especially
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From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
experience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had had him with her for two whole days--two days to be set against eight years!
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
Guy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Guy and his mother were together.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had had him with her for two whole days--two days to be set against eight years!
happiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
hearts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She had had him with her for two whole days--two days to be set against eight years!
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Guy and his mother were together.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
interminable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
joy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
mercies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
mercy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
Most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Guy and his mother were together.
mountain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
neck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
oh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
outweigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
pain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
pure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
reality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
remembrance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
risen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
season
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had had him with her for two whole days--two days to be set against eight years!
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
sofa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
span
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
stool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
thanks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had had him with her for two whole days--two days to be set against eight years!
together
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From this reading Guy and his mother were together.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
truth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most especially for that mercy--true as His truth to the experience of all pure hearts--that one bright, brief season of joy can outweigh, in reality and even in remembrance, whole years of apparently interminable pain.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had had him with her for two whole days--two days to be set against eight years!
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Guy and his mother were together.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She lay on a sofa in her dressing-room; he sat on a stool beside her, so that her arm could rest on his neck and she could now and then turn his face towards her and look at it--oh, what a look!
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had had him with her for two whole days--two days to be set against eight years!
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had had him with her for two whole days--two days to be set against eight years!
woeful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had had him with her for two whole days--two days to be set against eight years!
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet the eight years seemed already to have collapsed into a span of time, and the two days to have risen up a great mountain of happiness, making a barrier complete against the woeful past, as happiness can do--thanks to the All-merciful for His mercies.
