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 A PARADOX OF SENSIBILITY.
age
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In this there is nothing peculiar to one placed as I was.
aside
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From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
binds
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From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
break
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From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
breaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
burdens
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From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
cast
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From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
chains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
circumstances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
confines
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From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
continuity
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From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
cord
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From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
cost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
cutting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
detects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
door-key
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
effacing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
escape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
existence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
groans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading In this there is nothing peculiar to one placed as I was.
impossibility
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
impression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
incidents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
irks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
lives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
maturity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
Most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
move
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
movement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading In this there is nothing peculiar to one placed as I was.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A PARADOX OF SENSIBILITY.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In this there is nothing peculiar to one placed as I was.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
PARADOX
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PARADOX OF SENSIBILITY.
paralysis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
peculiar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this there is nothing peculiar to one placed as I was.
picture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
placed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this there is nothing peculiar to one placed as I was.
pocket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
presented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
prison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
record
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
SENSIBILITY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PARADOX OF SENSIBILITY.
sequence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
sinks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
SuchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this there is nothing peculiar to one placed as I was.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In this there is nothing peculiar to one placed as I was.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
trap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
understood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
walks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Such an impression my record may well give, unless it be understood that what came upon me was not an impossibility of movement, but a paralysis of the will to move.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading To many the picture presented by my life might seem that of a man who detects the trap and yet walks into it, sinks under burdens that he might cast aside, groans at chains that he could break, and will not leave the prison although the door-key is in his pocket.
youth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most men could escape from what irks, confines, or burdens them at the cost of effacing their past lives, breaking the continuity of existence, cutting the cord that binds together, in a sequence of circumstances and incidents, youth, and maturity, and age.
