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 Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After the stun of the blow came the realization of the consequences.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As for marriage in this state of uncertainty, she had no heart to think of it.
attention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
bit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
blow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After the stun of the blow came the realization of the consequences.
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
brother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After the stun of the blow came the realization of the consequences.
catch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
chance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
complained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
consciousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
consequences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After the stun of the blow came the realization of the consequences.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
fragments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for marriage in this state of uncertainty, she had no heart to think of it.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As for marriage in this state of uncertainty, she had no heart to think of it.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
marriage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for marriage in this state of uncertainty, she had no heart to think of it.
Michael
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
minute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading As for marriage in this state of uncertainty, she had no heart to think of it.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After the stun of the blow came the realization of the consequences.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
patiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
pursue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
realization
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After the stun of the blow came the realization of the consequences.
recall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
recollection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
resume
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
self-imposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
senseless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
sit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
spend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for marriage in this state of uncertainty, she had no heart to think of it.
stun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After the stun of the blow came the realization of the consequences.
Susan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
task
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After the stun of the blow came the realization of the consequences.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As for marriage in this state of uncertainty, she had no heart to think of it.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading As for marriage in this state of uncertainty, she had no heart to think of it.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
uncertainty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for marriage in this state of uncertainty, she had no heart to think of it.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
wait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading She would let him go and pursue some senseless bit of play, and wait until she could catch his eye or his attention again, when she would resume her self-imposed task.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
wits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Susan would sit for hours trying patiently to recall and piece together fragments of recollection and consciousness in her brother’s mind.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Michael complained that she never had a word for him, or a minute of time to spend with him now; but she only said she must try, while there was yet a chance, to bring back her brother’s lost wits.