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 OLIVA IS WILLING It seemed that a grey curtain of mist hung before Oliva's eyes.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Whenever she fixed her eyes upon one of these it straightway became two and three and then an unaccountable quantity.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a curtain spangled with tiny globes of dazzling light which grew from nothing and faded to nothing.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever she fixed her eyes upon one of these it straightway became two and three and then an unaccountable quantity.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading OLIVA IS WILLING It seemed that a grey curtain of mist hung before Oliva's eyes.
brain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
calmly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
cleared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
condition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She was emerging from a drugged sleep; she could regard herself in a curious impersonal fashion which was most interesting.
curious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was emerging from a drugged sleep; she could regard herself in a curious impersonal fashion which was most interesting.
curtain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OLIVA IS WILLING It seemed that a grey curtain of mist hung before Oliva's eyes.
dazzling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curtain spangled with tiny globes of dazzling light which grew from nothing and faded to nothing.
diagnosing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
drugged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was emerging from a drugged sleep; she could regard herself in a curious impersonal fashion which was most interesting.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
emerging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was emerging from a drugged sleep; she could regard herself in a curious impersonal fashion which was most interesting.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OLIVA IS WILLING It seemed that a grey curtain of mist hung before Oliva's eyes.
faces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
faded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curtain spangled with tiny globes of dazzling light which grew from nothing and faded to nothing.
fashion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was emerging from a drugged sleep; she could regard herself in a curious impersonal fashion which was most interesting.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
fixed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever she fixed her eyes upon one of these it straightway became two and three and then an unaccountable quantity.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was a curtain spangled with tiny globes of dazzling light which grew from nothing and faded to nothing.
globes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curtain spangled with tiny globes of dazzling light which grew from nothing and faded to nothing.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curtain spangled with tiny globes of dazzling light which grew from nothing and faded to nothing.
grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OLIVA IS WILLING It seemed that a grey curtain of mist hung before Oliva's eyes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Whenever she fixed her eyes upon one of these it straightway became two and three and then an unaccountable quantity.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She was emerging from a drugged sleep; she could regard herself in a curious impersonal fashion which was most interesting.
hung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OLIVA IS WILLING It seemed that a grey curtain of mist hung before Oliva's eyes.
impersonal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was emerging from a drugged sleep; she could regard herself in a curious impersonal fashion which was most interesting.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was emerging from a drugged sleep; she could regard herself in a curious impersonal fashion which was most interesting.
interesting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was emerging from a drugged sleep; she could regard herself in a curious impersonal fashion which was most interesting.
ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading OLIVA IS WILLING It seemed that a grey curtain of mist hung before Oliva's eyes.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading OLIVA IS WILLING It seemed that a grey curtain of mist hung before Oliva's eyes.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curtain spangled with tiny globes of dazzling light which grew from nothing and faded to nothing.
mist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OLIVA IS WILLING It seemed that a grey curtain of mist hung before Oliva's eyes.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was emerging from a drugged sleep; she could regard herself in a curious impersonal fashion which was most interesting.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was a curtain spangled with tiny globes of dazzling light which grew from nothing and faded to nothing.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading OLIVA IS WILLING It seemed that a grey curtain of mist hung before Oliva's eyes.
OLIVA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OLIVA IS WILLING It seemed that a grey curtain of mist hung before Oliva's eyes.
Oliva's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OLIVA IS WILLING It seemed that a grey curtain of mist hung before Oliva's eyes.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Whenever she fixed her eyes upon one of these it straightway became two and three and then an unaccountable quantity.
oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
quantity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever she fixed her eyes upon one of these it straightway became two and three and then an unaccountable quantity.
regard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was emerging from a drugged sleep; she could regard herself in a curious impersonal fashion which was most interesting.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading OLIVA IS WILLING It seemed that a grey curtain of mist hung before Oliva's eyes.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Whenever she fixed her eyes upon one of these it straightway became two and three and then an unaccountable quantity.
sleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was emerging from a drugged sleep; she could regard herself in a curious impersonal fashion which was most interesting.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
somebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/
a person, without saying who
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
spangled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curtain spangled with tiny globes of dazzling light which grew from nothing and faded to nothing.
straightway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever she fixed her eyes upon one of these it straightway became two and three and then an unaccountable quantity.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading OLIVA IS WILLING It seemed that a grey curtain of mist hung before Oliva's eyes.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever she fixed her eyes upon one of these it straightway became two and three and then an unaccountable quantity.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Whenever she fixed her eyes upon one of these it straightway became two and three and then an unaccountable quantity.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever she fixed her eyes upon one of these it straightway became two and three and then an unaccountable quantity.
tiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curtain spangled with tiny globes of dazzling light which grew from nothing and faded to nothing.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a curtain spangled with tiny globes of dazzling light which grew from nothing and faded to nothing.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever she fixed her eyes upon one of these it straightway became two and three and then an unaccountable quantity.
unaccountable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever she fixed her eyes upon one of these it straightway became two and three and then an unaccountable quantity.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Whenever she fixed her eyes upon one of these it straightway became two and three and then an unaccountable quantity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a curtain spangled with tiny globes of dazzling light which grew from nothing and faded to nothing.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She felt that she ought to see faces of people she knew, for one half of her brain had cleared and was calmly diagnosing her condition, but doing so as though she were somebody else.
WheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/
at any time that; every time that
From this reading Whenever she fixed her eyes upon one of these it straightway became two and three and then an unaccountable quantity.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a curtain spangled with tiny globes of dazzling light which grew from nothing and faded to nothing.
WILLING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OLIVA IS WILLING It seemed that a grey curtain of mist hung before Oliva's eyes.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a curtain spangled with tiny globes of dazzling light which grew from nothing and faded to nothing.
