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Lucretia — Volume 04
Lucretia — Volume 04

Chapter III

Cover illustration for Lucretia — Volume 04
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.
It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Lucretia — Volume 04

Chapter III

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
Line 2
Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
Line 3
It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.
Line 4
It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
Line 5
Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.”

Dream noun US /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading “It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.”

FIRST noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.”

Impulse noun US /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading “It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.”

Inexplicable noun US /inexplicable/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.”

Nameless adjective US /ˈneɪm.ləs/

Having no name, or having a name that is kept secret or unknown.

From this reading “It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.”

Seeing noun US /seeing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.”

All words in this reading · 91

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 Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

abstraction

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

alike

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

arrested

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

awakes

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

beat

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

Beatrice

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

beautiful

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

beauty

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

Cobbett

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

coming

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

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

common

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

constitutes

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

cottage-door

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

Dante

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

dimly

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

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

dreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

dullest

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

experience

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

eye

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

face

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

fancy

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

FIRSTnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

flashed

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

gaze

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

girl

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

hardest

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

heart

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

homeliest

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

house-work

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

inexplicablenounUS /inexplicable/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

instinct

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

John

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

light

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

liveliest

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

LOVE

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

From this reading LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

made

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

mere

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

more

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

namelessadjectiveUS /ˈneɪm.ləs/

Having no name, or having a name that is kept secret or unknown.

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

out

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

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

Percival

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

Plain

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

quickest

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

quickly

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

rather

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

reason

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

recognition

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

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

said

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

seeing

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

seen

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

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

SIGHT

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

From this reading LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

sleeper

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

sort

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

St

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

SuddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

sympathy

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

there

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

thrilled

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

true

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

truth

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

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

types

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

vision

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

wife

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

woke

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.