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 Only half of me has become a mother; it were better for me if I had not been a mother at all.
AlasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading Alas! in future I can be sincere with no one; I am condemned to falsehood.
all
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From this reading Only half of me has become a mother; it were better for me if I had not been a mother at all.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The world requires continual grimaces, and we are bidden to obey its conventions if we would escape reproach.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The world requires continual grimaces, and we are bidden to obey its conventions if we would escape reproach.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Only half of me has become a mother; it were better for me if I had not been a mother at all.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
become
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From this reading Only half of me has become a mother; it were better for me if I had not been a mother at all.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Only half of me has become a mother; it were better for me if I had not been a mother at all.
better
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From this reading Only half of me has become a mother; it were better for me if I had not been a mother at all.
bidden
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From this reading The world requires continual grimaces, and we are bidden to obey its conventions if we would escape reproach.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Alas! in future I can be sincere with no one; I am condemned to falsehood.
condemned
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From this reading Alas! in future I can be sincere with no one; I am condemned to falsehood.
continual
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From this reading The world requires continual grimaces, and we are bidden to obey its conventions if we would escape reproach.
conventions
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From this reading The world requires continual grimaces, and we are bidden to obey its conventions if we would escape reproach.
curé
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From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
distinctions
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From this reading There are two kinds of motherhood, monsieur; once I knew nothing of such distinctions, but I know them now.
escape
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From this reading The world requires continual grimaces, and we are bidden to obey its conventions if we would escape reproach.
falsehood
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From this reading Alas! in future I can be sincere with no one; I am condemned to falsehood.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Only half of me has become a mother; it were better for me if I had not been a mother at all.
future
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From this reading Alas! in future I can be sincere with no one; I am condemned to falsehood.
going
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From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
grimaces
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From this reading The world requires continual grimaces, and we are bidden to obey its conventions if we would escape reproach.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Only half of me has become a mother; it were better for me if I had not been a mother at all.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Only half of me has become a mother; it were better for me if I had not been a mother at all.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Only half of me has become a mother; it were better for me if I had not been a mother at all.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The world requires continual grimaces, and we are bidden to obey its conventions if we would escape reproach.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Alas! in future I can be sincere with no one; I am condemned to falsehood.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Only half of me has become a mother; it were better for me if I had not been a mother at all.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The world requires continual grimaces, and we are bidden to obey its conventions if we would escape reproach.
kinds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are two kinds of motherhood, monsieur; once I knew nothing of such distinctions, but I know them now.
knew
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From this reading There are two kinds of motherhood, monsieur; once I knew nothing of such distinctions, but I know them now.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There are two kinds of motherhood, monsieur; once I knew nothing of such distinctions, but I know them now.
madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
Marquise
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From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Only half of me has become a mother; it were better for me if I had not been a mother at all.
monsieur
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From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only half of me has become a mother; it were better for me if I had not been a mother at all.
motherhood
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From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Alas! in future I can be sincere with no one; I am condemned to falsehood.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There are two kinds of motherhood, monsieur; once I knew nothing of such distinctions, but I know them now.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are two kinds of motherhood, monsieur; once I knew nothing of such distinctions, but I know them now.
obey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world requires continual grimaces, and we are bidden to obey its conventions if we would escape reproach.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are two kinds of motherhood, monsieur; once I knew nothing of such distinctions, but I know them now.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Alas! in future I can be sincere with no one; I am condemned to falsehood.
Only
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From this reading Only half of me has become a mother; it were better for me if I had not been a mother at all.
religious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
reproach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world requires continual grimaces, and we are bidden to obey its conventions if we would escape reproach.
requires
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world requires continual grimaces, and we are bidden to obey its conventions if we would escape reproach.
resignation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
sentiments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
sincere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
Stop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading There are two kinds of motherhood, monsieur; once I knew nothing of such distinctions, but I know them now.
surely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There are two kinds of motherhood, monsieur; once I knew nothing of such distinctions, but I know them now.
There
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From this reading There are two kinds of motherhood, monsieur; once I knew nothing of such distinctions, but I know them now.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are two kinds of motherhood, monsieur; once I knew nothing of such distinctions, but I know them now.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The world requires continual grimaces, and we are bidden to obey its conventions if we would escape reproach.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Only half of me has become a mother; it were better for me if I had not been a mother at all.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world requires continual grimaces, and we are bidden to obey its conventions if we would escape reproach.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The world requires continual grimaces, and we are bidden to obey its conventions if we would escape reproach.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born,” said the curé, “but of motherhood, madame, surely--” “Stop, monsieur!” said the Marquise, “with you I will be sincere.
