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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
absurdity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?
account
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From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
bottom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
cloister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
command
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
direct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
dread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
Durtal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal exclaimed at last.
excitement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
exclaimed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal exclaimed at last.
fade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
feel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
firm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
guard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
hint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
inward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "But this is monstrous!"
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?
lack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Durtal exclaimed at last.
mere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
monstrous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "But this is monstrous!"
morrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
notion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
plainlynounUS /ˈplainly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
pleasure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
possession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
presentiments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?
proof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
shoulders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
shrugged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?
soul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
surge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
trip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
understanding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
vague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
warning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it not, again, for lack of a command plainly given by some inward voice, a warning, a direct and secret hint, that he should be on his guard not to think of this visit to a cloister as a mere pleasure trip?
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Was not the very absurdity of it a proof that this notion was one of the presentiments that we sometimes feel without understanding it?
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading This idea, which had taken firm possession of him for a few minutes, seemed to fade away, and by the morrow there only remained a startled excitement which nothing could account for; he now shrugged his shoulders, but still, at the bottom of his soul a vague sense of dread would surge up.
