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 One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Yes,” he resumed “she had grown stouter since ceasing to conceive, and her anxieties about her children began to disappear.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
anxieties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes,” he resumed “she had grown stouter since ceasing to conceive, and her anxieties about her children began to disappear.
beard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
become
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Yes,” he resumed “she had grown stouter since ceasing to conceive, and her anxieties about her children began to disappear.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
ceasing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes,” he resumed “she had grown stouter since ceasing to conceive, and her anxieties about her children began to disappear.
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes,” he resumed “she had grown stouter since ceasing to conceive, and her anxieties about her children began to disappear.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
conceive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes,” he resumed “she had grown stouter since ceasing to conceive, and her anxieties about her children began to disappear.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
diminished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
disappear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes,” he resumed “she had grown stouter since ceasing to conceive, and her anxieties about her children began to disappear.
enlarged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
entire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not even to disappear.
expression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
frightful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes,” he resumed “she had grown stouter since ceasing to conceive, and her anxieties about her children began to disappear.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Yes,” he resumed “she had grown stouter since ceasing to conceive, and her anxieties about her children began to disappear.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Yes,” he resumed “she had grown stouter since ceasing to conceive, and her anxieties about her children began to disappear.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “‘If only this world shall not vanish!
immense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
intoxication
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
joys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
moustache
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
mouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
nose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not even to disappear.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘If only this world shall not vanish!
perceived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
pitiable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
Posdnicheff's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
resumednounUS /ˈresumed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Yes,” he resumed “she had grown stouter since ceasing to conceive, and her anxieties about her children began to disappear.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “‘If only this world shall not vanish!
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Yes,” he resumed “she had grown stouter since ceasing to conceive, and her anxieties about her children began to disappear.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading “Yes,” he resumed “she had grown stouter since ceasing to conceive, and her anxieties about her children began to disappear.
stouter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes,” he resumed “she had grown stouter since ceasing to conceive, and her anxieties about her children began to disappear.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “‘If only this world shall not vanish!
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Yes,” he resumed “she had grown stouter since ceasing to conceive, and her anxieties about her children began to disappear.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
transformed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
universe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
vanish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘If only this world shall not vanish!
wakingadjectiveUS /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/
Risen from sleep; conscious.
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Posdnicheff’s face had become transformed; his eyes were pitiable; their expression seemed strange, like that of another being than himself; his moustache and beard turned up toward the top of his face; his nose was diminished, and his mouth enlarged, immense, frightful.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading One would have said that she was waking from a long intoxication, that on coming to herself she had perceived the entire universe with its joys, a whole world in which she had not learned to live, and which she did not understand.
Yes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes,” he resumed “she had grown stouter since ceasing to conceive, and her anxieties about her children began to disappear.
