used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
anew
From this reading When he found no one, the impulse of half-mad derision seized him again.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The strange, confused tinkling and pealing of the bell had seemed to him a supernatural call.
anguishnounUS /ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/
extreme mental distress
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading The strange, confused tinkling and pealing of the bell had seemed to him a supernatural call.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The strange, confused tinkling and pealing of the bell had seemed to him a supernatural call.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
chaosnounUS /ˈkeɪɑːs/
a state of extreme confusion and disorder
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading The strange, confused tinkling and pealing of the bell had seemed to him a supernatural call.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
delusionnounUS /dɪˈluːʒən/
(psychology) an erroneous belief that is held in the face of evidence to the contrary
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
derisionnounUS /dərˈɪʒən/
contemptuous laughter
From this reading When he found no one, the impulse of half-mad derision seized him again.
diseasedadjectiveUS /dɪˈziːzd/
caused by or altered by or manifesting disease or pathology
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
distortedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɔːrtəd/
so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
elementsnounUS /ˈeləmənts/
violent or severe weather (viewed as caused by the action of the four elements)
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
escapingverbUS /ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
fantasticadjectiveUS /fænˈtæstɪk/
ludicrously odd
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
fictitiousadjectiveUS /fɪkˈtɪʃəs/
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
set up or found
From this reading When he found no one, the impulse of half-mad derision seized him again.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
destroyed or killed
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The strange, confused tinkling and pealing of the bell had seemed to him a supernatural call.
half-mad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he found no one, the impulse of half-mad derision seized him again.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The strange, confused tinkling and pealing of the bell had seemed to him a supernatural call.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
an instinctive motive
From this reading When he found no one, the impulse of half-mad derision seized him again.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
jarringadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɑːrɪŋ/
making or causing a harsh and irritating sound
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
roused to anger
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
mechanicallyadverbUS /məˈkænɪkli/
in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
not any; not one
From this reading When he found no one, the impulse of half-mad derision seized him again.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The strange, confused tinkling and pealing of the bell had seemed to him a supernatural call.
OlivernounUS /ˈɑːləvər/
United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When he found no one, the impulse of half-mad derision seized him again.
and nothing more
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
win a victory over
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
pealingnoun
a deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells)
From this reading The strange, confused tinkling and pealing of the bell had seemed to him a supernatural call.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
pitifuladjectiveUS /ˈpɪtəfəl/
inspiring mixed contempt and pity
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
a future prospect or potential
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
reverberationsnounUS /rɪˌvɜːrbərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “reverberation” — the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
ridiculenounUS /ˈrɪdəkjuːl/
language or behavior intended to mock or humiliate
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
inspiring scornful pity
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/
(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
saneadjectiveUS /seɪn/
mentally healthy; free from mental disorder
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
only a very short time before
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The strange, confused tinkling and pealing of the bell had seemed to him a supernatural call.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading When he found no one, the impulse of half-mad derision seized him again.
self-deceitnoun
a misconception that is favorable to the person who holds it
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
shatteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃætərd/
ruined or disrupted
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading The strange, confused tinkling and pealing of the bell had seemed to him a supernatural call.
summonsesnounUS /ˈsʌmənzɪz/
plural of “summons” — a request to be present
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
supernaturalnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈnætʃərəl/
supernatural forces and events and beings collectively
From this reading The strange, confused tinkling and pealing of the bell had seemed to him a supernatural call.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The strange, confused tinkling and pealing of the bell had seemed to him a supernatural call.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
tinklingadjectiveUS /ˈtɪŋkəlɪŋ/
like the short high ringing sound of a small bell
From this reading The strange, confused tinkling and pealing of the bell had seemed to him a supernatural call.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The strange, confused tinkling and pealing of the bell had seemed to him a supernatural call.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
at the time that
From this reading When Oliver left his rooms on that terrible night, it could scarcely be said that he was a sane man.
in or at the place that
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading When he had come to himself a little, out of the strange, wild fit of ridicule of himself and his pitiful intention of escaping from fate, which had overcome him, he had risen mechanically and gone to the door.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It was as if he had gone through every possibility of the anguish and misery that were real, and had come out on the other side where all is distorted and fantastic, and nothing true; where there were voices without persons, calls, and jarring summonses that meant nothing, a chaos of delusion and self-deceit, in which fever and shattered nerves and reverberations out of a diseased brain were the only elements, and every impression was fictitious, ridiculous, mad and false.
