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aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
anxiety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
Ben
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From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
buried
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From this reading “We buried him yesterday,” he wrote, “and his wife and we fellows who had known him and loved him, stood by the grave.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “We buried him yesterday,” he wrote, “and his wife and we fellows who had known him and loved him, stood by the grave.
California
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
country
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From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
explained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
fellows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We buried him yesterday,” he wrote, “and his wife and we fellows who had known him and loved him, stood by the grave.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
grave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We buried him yesterday,” he wrote, “and his wife and we fellows who had known him and loved him, stood by the grave.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “We buried him yesterday,” he wrote, “and his wife and we fellows who had known him and loved him, stood by the grave.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
inch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We buried him yesterday,” he wrote, “and his wife and we fellows who had known him and loved him, stood by the grave.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These last months he worked like one possessed.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
loved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We buried him yesterday,” he wrote, “and his wife and we fellows who had known him and loved him, stood by the grave.
LOYALTY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These last months he worked like one possessed.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He never had much strength, but what he had, he taxed to the uttermost.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He never had much strength, but what he had, he taxed to the uttermost.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
Overleigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
overwork
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
PASSION
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
possessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These last months he worked like one possessed.
reduced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
rightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
Robert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
Robert's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
slipping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
sorrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
Southern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
spread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “We buried him yesterday,” he wrote, “and his wife and we fellows who had known him and loved him, stood by the grave.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
Strafford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
taxed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He never had much strength, but what he had, he taxed to the uttermost.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These last months he worked like one possessed.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
understood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
uttermost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He never had much strength, but what he had, he taxed to the uttermost.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We buried him yesterday,” he wrote, “and his wife and we fellows who had known him and loved him, stood by the grave.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He never had much strength, but what he had, he taxed to the uttermost.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading PASSION AND LOYALTY There was great sorrow felt when the news spread about that Robert Strafford had died, but there was no surprise, for his friends had long since seen that he was slipping away from them, having reduced himself to the last inch of his strength through overwork and anxiety.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading “We buried him yesterday,” he wrote, “and his wife and we fellows who had known him and loved him, stood by the grave.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We buried him yesterday,” he wrote, “and his wife and we fellows who had known him and loved him, stood by the grave.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These last months he worked like one possessed.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an old story in Southern California, and one not rightly understood in the old country, but Ben Overleigh explained it in the letter which he wrote to Robert’s father.
yesterday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We buried him yesterday,” he wrote, “and his wife and we fellows who had known him and loved him, stood by the grave.
