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 And there followed a long period which to him was well-nigh a blank.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And there followed a long period which to him was well-nigh a blank.
asunder
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From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
aware
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From this reading In a semi-delirious condition he tossed and moaned the hours away, hardly aware of his own identity.
away
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From this reading In a semi-delirious condition he tossed and moaned the hours away, hardly aware of his own identity.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
blank
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From this reading And there followed a long period which to him was well-nigh a blank.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
collapse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
condition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a semi-delirious condition he tossed and moaned the hours away, hardly aware of his own identity.
conscious
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From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
causing pain or showing no kindness
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
cut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
existence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
fever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there followed a long period which to him was well-nigh a blank.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
frail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
graspnounUS /ɡræsp/
a firm hold in a specific situation in this story
From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
grave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a semi-delirious condition he tossed and moaned the hours away, hardly aware of his own identity.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
Helmsley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
helpless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And there followed a long period which to him was well-nigh a blank.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a semi-delirious condition he tossed and moaned the hours away, hardly aware of his own identity.
identity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a semi-delirious condition he tossed and moaned the hours away, hardly aware of his own identity.
ill
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From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
intense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And there followed a long period which to him was well-nigh a blank.
longing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
moaned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a semi-delirious condition he tossed and moaned the hours away, hardly aware of his own identity.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
move
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
nerve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a semi-delirious condition he tossed and moaned the hours away, hardly aware of his own identity.
Pain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
period
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there followed a long period which to him was well-nigh a blank.
rack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
semi-delirious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a semi-delirious condition he tossed and moaned the hours away, hardly aware of his own identity.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
sinew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
sink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
surroundings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there followed a long period which to him was well-nigh a blank.
thread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
threatened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
torment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
tortured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
tossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a semi-delirious condition he tossed and moaned the hours away, hardly aware of his own identity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The next morning Helmsley was too ill to move from his bed, or to be conscious of his surroundings.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For weeks he lay helpless in the grasp of a fever which over and over again threatened to cut the last frail thread of his life asunder.
well-nigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there followed a long period which to him was well-nigh a blank.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And there followed a long period which to him was well-nigh a blank.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Pain tortured every nerve and sinew in his body, and there were times of terrible collapse,--when he was conscious of nothing save an intense longing to sink into the grave and have done with all the sharp and cruel torment which kept him on the rack of existence.
