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Martin Eden
Martin Eden

Chapter X

Cover illustration for Martin Eden
Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.
“It’s a lady’s voice, a fine lady’s,” Mr. Higginbotham, who had called him, jeered.
Martin went to the telephone in the corner of the room, and felt a wave of warmth rush through him as he heard Ruth’s voice.
In his battle with the sonnet he had forgotten her existence, and at the sound of her voice his love for her smote him like a sudden blow.
And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.
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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.

Martin Eden

Chapter X

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.
Line 2
“It’s a lady’s voice, a fine lady’s,” Mr. Higginbotham, who had called him, jeered.
Line 3
Martin went to the telephone in the corner of the room, and felt a wave of warmth rush through him as he heard Ruth’s voice.
Line 4
In his battle with the sonnet he had forgotten her existence, and at the sound of her voice his love for her smote him like a sudden blow.
Line 5
And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

Learner Dictionary

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

Fine noun US /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““It’s a lady’s voice, a fine lady’s,” Mr. Higginbotham, who had called him, jeered.”

Forgotten adjective US /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading “In his battle with the sonnet he had forgotten her existence, and at the sound of her voice his love for her smote him like a sudden blow.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.”

Silver noun US /silver/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In his battle with the sonnet he had forgotten her existence, and at the sound of her voice his love for her smote him like a sudden blow.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Martin went to the telephone in the corner of the room, and felt a wave of warmth rush through him as he heard Ruth’s voice.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

all

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Martin went to the telephone in the corner of the room, and felt a wave of warmth rush through him as he heard Ruth’s voice.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading In his battle with the sonnet he had forgotten her existence, and at the sound of her voice his love for her smote him like a sudden blow.

awry

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

battle

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

From this reading In his battle with the sonnet he had forgotten her existence, and at the sound of her voice his love for her smote him like a sudden blow.

beauty

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

bell

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

From this reading And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

better

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

From this reading And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

blow

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

From this reading In his battle with the sonnet he had forgotten her existence, and at the sound of her voice his love for her smote him like a sudden blow.

brain

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

called

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

corner

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

From this reading Martin went to the telephone in the corner of the room, and felt a wave of warmth rush through him as he heard Ruth’s voice.

crystal-pure

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

From this reading And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

delicate

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

From this reading And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

Early

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

evening

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

existence

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

From this reading In his battle with the sonnet he had forgotten her existence, and at the sound of her voice his love for her smote him like a sudden blow.

faint

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

From this reading And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

far

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

From this reading And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

felt

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

From this reading Martin went to the telephone in the corner of the room, and felt a wave of warmth rush through him as he heard Ruth’s voice.

finenounUS /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It’s a lady’s voice, a fine lady’s,” Mr. Higginbotham, who had called him, jeered.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading In his battle with the sonnet he had forgotten her existence, and at the sound of her voice his love for her smote him like a sudden blow.

forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading In his battle with the sonnet he had forgotten her existence, and at the sound of her voice his love for her smote him like a sudden blow.

glow

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading “It’s a lady’s voice, a fine lady’s,” Mr. Higginbotham, who had called him, jeered.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Martin went to the telephone in the corner of the room, and felt a wave of warmth rush through him as he heard Ruth’s voice.

heard

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

From this reading Martin went to the telephone in the corner of the room, and felt a wave of warmth rush through him as he heard Ruth’s voice.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading In his battle with the sonnet he had forgotten her existence, and at the sound of her voice his love for her smote him like a sudden blow.

Higginbotham

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

From this reading “It’s a lady’s voice, a fine lady’s,” Mr. Higginbotham, who had called him, jeered.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading “It’s a lady’s voice, a fine lady’s,” Mr. Higginbotham, who had called him, jeered.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

It's

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

From this reading “It’s a lady’s voice, a fine lady’s,” Mr. Higginbotham, who had called him, jeered.

jeered

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

From this reading “It’s a lady’s voice, a fine lady’s,” Mr. Higginbotham, who had called him, jeered.

lady's

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

From this reading “It’s a lady’s voice, a fine lady’s,” Mr. Higginbotham, who had called him, jeered.

like

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

From this reading In his battle with the sonnet he had forgotten her existence, and at the sound of her voice his love for her smote him like a sudden blow.

love

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

From this reading In his battle with the sonnet he had forgotten her existence, and at the sound of her voice his love for her smote him like a sudden blow.

Martin

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

Mr

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

From this reading “It’s a lady’s voice, a fine lady’s,” Mr. Higginbotham, who had called him, jeered.

music

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

From this reading And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Martin went to the telephone in the corner of the room, and felt a wave of warmth rush through him as he heard Ruth’s voice.

off

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

From this reading And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

perfect

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

From this reading And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

room

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

From this reading Martin went to the telephone in the corner of the room, and felt a wave of warmth rush through him as he heard Ruth’s voice.

rush

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

From this reading Martin went to the telephone in the corner of the room, and felt a wave of warmth rush through him as he heard Ruth’s voice.

Ruth's

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

From this reading Martin went to the telephone in the corner of the room, and felt a wave of warmth rush through him as he heard Ruth’s voice.

silver

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

From this reading And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

smote

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

From this reading In his battle with the sonnet he had forgotten her existence, and at the sound of her voice his love for her smote him like a sudden blow.

sonnet

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

sound

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

From this reading In his battle with the sonnet he had forgotten her existence, and at the sound of her voice his love for her smote him like a sudden blow.

strain

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

From this reading And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

struggling

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In his battle with the sonnet he had forgotten her existence, and at the sound of her voice his love for her smote him like a sudden blow.

sweet

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

From this reading And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

telephone

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

tone

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

From this reading And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

trailed

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

twisted

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

vapor

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

voice

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

From this reading “It’s a lady’s voice, a fine lady’s,” Mr. Higginbotham, who had called him, jeered.

warmth

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

From this reading Martin went to the telephone in the corner of the room, and felt a wave of warmth rush through him as he heard Ruth’s voice.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.

wave

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

From this reading Martin went to the telephone in the corner of the room, and felt a wave of warmth rush through him as he heard Ruth’s voice.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Martin went to the telephone in the corner of the room, and felt a wave of warmth rush through him as he heard Ruth’s voice.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading “It’s a lady’s voice, a fine lady’s,” Mr. Higginbotham, who had called him, jeered.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Early one evening, struggling with a sonnet that twisted all awry the beauty and thought that trailed in glow and vapor through his brain, Martin was called to the telephone.