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 Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
allowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
anguish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
animal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
beast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he never thought of it, except when he was dragged to it—he lived like a dumb beast of burden, knowing only the moment in which he was.
beaten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only because he was so numb and beaten himself that Jurgis did not worry more about this.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading It was only because he was so numb and beaten himself that Jurgis did not worry more about this.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
burden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he never thought of it, except when he was dragged to it—he lived like a dumb beast of burden, knowing only the moment in which he was.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
consolations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
crisis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
despair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It was only because he was so numb and beaten himself that Jurgis did not worry more about this.
disposednounUS /ˈdisposed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
distrust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
dragged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he never thought of it, except when he was dragged to it—he lived like a dumb beast of burden, knowing only the moment in which he was.
dumb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he never thought of it, except when he was dragged to it—he lived like a dumb beast of burden, knowing only the moment in which he was.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
Elzbieta's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading But he never thought of it, except when he was dragged to it—he lived like a dumb beast of burden, knowing only the moment in which he was.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
frantic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
frightened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
happen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was only because he was so numb and beaten himself that Jurgis did not worry more about this.
hunted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
Jurgis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
knowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he never thought of it, except when he was dragged to it—he lived like a dumb beast of burden, knowing only the moment in which he was.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he never thought of it, except when he was dragged to it—he lived like a dumb beast of burden, knowing only the moment in which he was.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he never thought of it, except when he was dragged to it—he lived like a dumb beast of burden, knowing only the moment in which he was.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But he never thought of it, except when he was dragged to it—he lived like a dumb beast of burden, knowing only the moment in which he was.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
numb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only because he was so numb and beaten himself that Jurgis did not worry more about this.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
Ona
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
Ona's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
Once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only because he was so numb and beaten himself that Jurgis did not worry more about this.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
outbreaks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
perplexing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
phrases
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
promise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was only because he was so numb and beaten himself that Jurgis did not worry more about this.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
terror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But he never thought of it, except when he was dragged to it—he lived like a dumb beast of burden, knowing only the moment in which he was.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Each crisis would leave Jurgis more and more frightened, more disposed to distrust Elzbieta’s consolations, and to believe that there was some terrible thing about all this that he was not allowed to know.
twice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
vain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
weeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Once or twice in these outbreaks he caught Ona’s eye, and it seemed to him like the eye of a hunted animal; there were broken phrases of anguish and despair now and then, amid her frantic weeping.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading But he never thought of it, except when he was dragged to it—he lived like a dumb beast of burden, knowing only the moment in which he was.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But he never thought of it, except when he was dragged to it—he lived like a dumb beast of burden, knowing only the moment in which he was.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.
worry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only because he was so numb and beaten himself that Jurgis did not worry more about this.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The beginning of these perplexing things was in the summer; and each time Ona would promise him with terror in her voice that it would not happen again—but in vain.