Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
affection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
All
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From this reading All the while Mrs. Spires was getting on with her cooking.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Several times she looked as if she were going to speak, and several times she checked herself.
ardent
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From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Several times she looked as if she were going to speak, and several times she checked herself.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
burdens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
checked
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From this reading Several times she looked as if she were going to speak, and several times she checked herself.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
cooking
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From this reading All the while Mrs. Spires was getting on with her cooking.
didn't
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From this reading In truth, she didn't know what to make of Esther.
difficulties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
enable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
Esther
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In truth, she didn't know what to make of Esther.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
fleeting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
getting
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From this reading All the while Mrs. Spires was getting on with her cooking.
gives
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From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times she looked as if she were going to speak, and several times she checked herself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
hardships
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading All the while Mrs. Spires was getting on with her cooking.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Several times she looked as if she were going to speak, and several times she checked herself.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Several times she looked as if she were going to speak, and several times she checked herself.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In truth, she didn't know what to make of Esther.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In truth, she didn't know what to make of Esther.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Several times she looked as if she were going to speak, and several times she checked herself.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In truth, she didn't know what to make of Esther.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
mothers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the while Mrs. Spires was getting on with her cooking.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In truth, she didn't know what to make of Esther.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All the while Mrs. Spires was getting on with her cooking.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
ordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
ridding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
sake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
Several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times she looked as if she were going to speak, and several times she checked herself.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Several times she looked as if she were going to speak, and several times she checked herself.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times she looked as if she were going to speak, and several times she checked herself.
Spires
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the while Mrs. Spires was getting on with her cooking.
strain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
talked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
temptation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All the while Mrs. Spires was getting on with her cooking.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times she looked as if she were going to speak, and several times she checked herself.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Several times she looked as if she were going to speak, and several times she checked herself.
truth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In truth, she didn't know what to make of Esther.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All the while Mrs. Spires was getting on with her cooking.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Several times she looked as if she were going to speak, and several times she checked herself.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading In truth, she didn't know what to make of Esther.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading All the while Mrs. Spires was getting on with her cooking.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading All the while Mrs. Spires was getting on with her cooking.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
yielded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Spires had heard many mothers talk as Esther talked, but when the real strain of life was put upon them they had yielded to the temptation of ridding themselves of their burdens.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was her love of her child such love as would enable her to put up with all hardships for its sake, or was it the fleeting affection of the ordinary young mother, which, though ardent at first, gives way under difficulties?
