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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
all
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From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When, on his return to Pincote, Tom was ushered into the Squire’s room, he found the old man, to all appearance, very much better in health than when he had left him.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
avert
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From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
bearer
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From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
better
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From this reading When, on his return to Pincote, Tom was ushered into the Squire’s room, he found the old man, to all appearance, very much better in health than when he had left him.
blow
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From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
break
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From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
Bristow
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From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
burden
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From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
carefully-worded
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From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
else
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From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
evil
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From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
fallen
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From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
force
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From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When, on his return to Pincote, Tom was ushered into the Squire’s room, he found the old man, to all appearance, very much better in health than when he had left him.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
given
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From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
gladly
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From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
health
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From this reading When, on his return to Pincote, Tom was ushered into the Squire’s room, he found the old man, to all appearance, very much better in health than when he had left him.
heavy
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From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When, on his return to Pincote, Tom was ushered into the Squire’s room, he found the old man, to all appearance, very much better in health than when he had left him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
hoping
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From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
ill
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From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
imposed
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From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
interpret
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From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
latter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When, on his return to Pincote, Tom was ushered into the Squire’s room, he found the old man, to all appearance, very much better in health than when he had left him.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
London
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From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
longer
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From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
lot
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From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
love
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From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
man
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From this reading When, on his return to Pincote, Tom was ushered into the Squire’s room, he found the old man, to all appearance, very much better in health than when he had left him.
measure
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From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
much
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From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
occasion
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From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
old
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From this reading When, on his return to Pincote, Tom was ushered into the Squire’s room, he found the old man, to all appearance, very much better in health than when he had left him.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
Pincote
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From this reading When, on his return to Pincote, Tom was ushered into the Squire’s room, he found the old man, to all appearance, very much better in health than when he had left him.
present
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From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
regard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When, on his return to Pincote, Tom was ushered into the Squire’s room, he found the old man, to all appearance, very much better in health than when he had left him.
room
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From this reading When, on his return to Pincote, Tom was ushered into the Squire’s room, he found the old man, to all appearance, very much better in health than when he had left him.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
sent
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From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
share
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From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
some
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From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
Squire
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From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
SQUIRE'S
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From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
telegram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
telling
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From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
thankless
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From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
there
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From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
thereby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From London he had sent a carefully-worded telegram to the Squire, which the latter would know how to interpret, hoping thereby to break in some measure the force of the blow which nothing could much longer avert.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
tidings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
Tom
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From this reading Not often in the course of his life had such a duty fallen to the lot of Tom Bristow, and never had the burden seemed so heavy as on this present occasion.
TRIBULATION
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
turned
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From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
ushered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When, on his return to Pincote, Tom was ushered into the Squire’s room, he found the old man, to all appearance, very much better in health than when he had left him.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading THE SQUIRE’S TRIBULATION What more thankless office is there than to be the bearer of ill news to those we love or regard?
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When, on his return to Pincote, Tom was ushered into the Squire’s room, he found the old man, to all appearance, very much better in health than when he had left him.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
worth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would gladly have given a very fair share of all that he was worth could he but have turned his ill news into good news, or else have imposed upon some one else the telling of those evil tidings of which he was the bearer.
