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Martin Eden
Martin Eden

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for Martin Eden
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.
Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.
He hated the oblivion of sleep.
There was too much to do, too much of life to live.
He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.
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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 XIV

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.
Line 2
Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.
Line 3
He hated the oblivion of sleep.
Line 4
There was too much to do, too much of life to live.
Line 5
He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was too much to do, too much of life to live.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

alarm-clock

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

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.

awoke

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

From this reading Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

bite

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

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

cat

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

From this reading Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.

ceased

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

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

clattering

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

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

clock

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

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

cold

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

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

constitution

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

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading There was too much to do, too much of life to live.

eagerly

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

From this reading Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.

ears

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

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

five

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

From this reading Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.

given

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

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

glad

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

From this reading Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.

gone

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

From this reading Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.

grudged

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

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

hated

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

From this reading He hated the oblivion of sleep.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.

head

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

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

headache

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

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

hours

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

From this reading Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

instantly

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

From this reading Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

jerking

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

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

less

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

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was too much to do, too much of life to live.

like

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

From this reading Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.

live

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

From this reading There was too much to do, too much of life to live.

Martin

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

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

moment

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

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

much

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

From this reading There was too much to do, too much of life to live.

oblivion

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

From this reading He hated the oblivion of sleep.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

off

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

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

out

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

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

robbed

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

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

sleep

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

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

slept

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

From this reading Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.

soundly

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

From this reading Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.

splendid

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

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

suddenness

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

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

There

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

From this reading There was too much to do, too much of life to live.

ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.

thrilling

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

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

too

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

From this reading There was too much to do, too much of life to live.

unconsciousness

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

From this reading Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was too much to do, too much of life to live.

washbasin

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

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

water

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

From this reading He grudged every moment of life sleep robbed him of, and before the clock had ceased its clattering he was head and ears in the washbasin and thrilling to the cold bite of the water.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Though he slept soundly, he awoke instantly, like a cat, and he awoke eagerly, glad that the five hours of unconsciousness were gone.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The alarm-clock went off, jerking Martin out of sleep with a suddenness that would have given headache to one with less splendid constitution.