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 Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
action
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
bewildering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
brain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
business-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet no; each detail of my scheme was too complete, too consistent, too business-like for that.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
careful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
changing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
colors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
completenounUS /complete/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet no; each detail of my scheme was too complete, too consistent, too business-like for that.
condition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
confused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
consistent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet no; each detail of my scheme was too complete, too consistent, too business-like for that.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
detail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet no; each detail of my scheme was too complete, too consistent, too business-like for that.
discover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
disordered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
dreams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
dying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Yet no; each detail of my scheme was too complete, too consistent, too business-like for that.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
extent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
fancies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
feverish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Yet no; each detail of my scheme was too complete, too consistent, too business-like for that.
formed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
forms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
fragments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
gross
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
hazyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪzi/
unclear or blurred, especially from drink
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
helps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
hopelessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
images
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
incidents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
kaleidoscope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
Looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
mad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
madman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
material
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
method
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
methodical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
mistake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
moments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Yet no; each detail of my scheme was too complete, too consistent, too business-like for that.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
omission
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
patterns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
plans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
preceded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
questioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
refined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
scheme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet no; each detail of my scheme was too complete, too consistent, too business-like for that.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
shaken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
Shifting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
slight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
slip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
spiritual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet no; each detail of my scheme was too complete, too consistent, too business-like for that.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
wedding-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking back on the incidents of those strange feverish weeks that preceded my wedding-day, they seemed to me like the dreams of a dying man.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Shifting colors, confused images, moments of clear light, hours of long darkness—all things gross, refined, material, and spiritual were shaken up in my life like the fragments in a kaleidoscope, ever changing into new forms and bewildering patterns.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A madman may have a method of action to a certain extent, but there is always some slight slip, some omission, some mistake which helps to discover his condition.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading My brain was clear; yet I often questioned myself whether I was not going mad—whether all the careful methodical plans I formed were but the hazy fancies of a hopelessly disordered mind?
