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 It was not for us to give the lie to a proverb.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Misfortunes never come singly, and they did not come singly to us.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Misfortunes never come singly, and they did not come singly to us.
comes
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From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
commences
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From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
comprehension
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From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
curiously-reluctant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
death
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From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
deepest
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From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Misfortunes never come singly, and they did not come singly to us.
distance
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From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was not for us to give the lie to a proverb.
form
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not for us to give the lie to a proverb.
grandmother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
grow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
hurry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not for us to give the lie to a proverb.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
lie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not for us to give the lie to a proverb.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
Misfortunes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Misfortunes never come singly, and they did not come singly to us.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
mourning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
narrate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Misfortunes never come singly, and they did not come singly to us.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Misfortunes never come singly, and they did not come singly to us.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
Often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
pauses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
phase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
prepare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
proverb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not for us to give the lie to a proverb.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
quickly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
shrink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
singly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Misfortunes never come singly, and they did not come singly to us.
sorrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
takes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was not for us to give the lie to a proverb.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Misfortunes never come singly, and they did not come singly to us.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Misfortunes never come singly, and they did not come singly to us.
troubles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
truth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Misfortunes never come singly, and they did not come singly to us.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In very truth, sorrow in its deepest phase had entered our house, and my mother's form seemed to shrink and grow less from the day she put on mourning for my grandmother.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not for us to give the lie to a proverb.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Often in a family, death is in a hurry when it commences, and takes one after another quickly; then pauses for a long breath.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But if my mother had her troubles, I am sure I had mine; and one was of such a strange and terrible nature that, even at this distance of time, and with a better comprehension of things, a curiously-reluctant feeling comes upon me as I prepare to narrate it.
