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 This portentous silence increased rather than diminished my interest in the man I loved as a brother.
acquaintances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
affectionate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I travelled for many months alone.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
answer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This portentous silence increased rather than diminished my interest in the man I loved as a brother.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
brother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This portentous silence increased rather than diminished my interest in the man I loved as a brother.
brothers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
diminished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This portentous silence increased rather than diminished my interest in the man I loved as a brother.
entertained
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From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
expression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
faithfulnounUS /ˈfaithful/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
feelings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I travelled for many months alone.
friendships
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
Germany
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
giving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I travelled for many months alone.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
increased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This portentous silence increased rather than diminished my interest in the man I loved as a brother.
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This portentous silence increased rather than diminished my interest in the man I loved as a brother.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
loved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This portentous silence increased rather than diminished my interest in the man I loved as a brother.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This portentous silence increased rather than diminished my interest in the man I loved as a brother.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I travelled for many months alone.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I travelled for many months alone.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
portentous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This portentous silence increased rather than diminished my interest in the man I loved as a brother.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This portentous silence increased rather than diminished my interest in the man I loved as a brother.
receiving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
regard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
ripened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
seldom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading This portentous silence increased rather than diminished my interest in the man I loved as a brother.
Silvain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
speaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
terms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading This portentous silence increased rather than diminished my interest in the man I loved as a brother.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
ThinkingnounUS /thinking/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This portentous silence increased rather than diminished my interest in the man I loved as a brother.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
travelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I travelled for many months alone.
twenty-four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
unlikely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
wandering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading I made acquaintances which never ripened into friendships, and seldom did twenty-four hours pass without my thoughts wandering to Silvain.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
won
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In speaking of him in these terms I am but giving faithful expression to the feelings I entertained for him; up to that time I had never met a human being, man or woman, who had so entirely won my affectionate regard.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking it not unlikely that one or both of the brothers had returned to their home in Germany, I wrote several letters to them there, without receiving an answer.
