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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 We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
accurately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is impossible to define motives accurately, even our own.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I think I may as well go and call on her, as I have nothing else to do."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I think I may as well go and call on her, as I have nothing else to do."
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I think I may as well go and call on her, as I have nothing else to do."
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
common
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
conscious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
define
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is impossible to define motives accurately, even our own.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "I think I may as well go and call on her, as I have nothing else to do."
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Where does Miss Toosey live?" said John Rossitter on Monday morning.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I think I may as well go and call on her, as I have nothing else to do."
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is impossible to define motives accurately, even our own.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
existence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
experience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I think I may as well go and call on her, as I have nothing else to do."
habit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I think I may as well go and call on her, as I have nothing else to do."
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "I think I may as well go and call on her, as I have nothing else to do."
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I do not know what impelled him to go.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I think I may as well go and call on her, as I have nothing else to do."
impelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I do not know what impelled him to go.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is impossible to define motives accurately, even our own.
inclination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
invisible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is impossible to define motives accurately, even our own.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is impossible to define motives accurately, even our own.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where does Miss Toosey live?" said John Rossitter on Monday morning.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I do not know what impelled him to go.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where does Miss Toosey live?" said John Rossitter on Monday morning.
loose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "I think I may as well go and call on her, as I have nothing else to do."
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where does Miss Toosey live?" said John Rossitter on Monday morning.
Monday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where does Miss Toosey live?" said John Rossitter on Monday morning.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Where does Miss Toosey live?" said John Rossitter on Monday morning.
motive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
motives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is impossible to define motives accurately, even our own.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I do not know what impelled him to go.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "I think I may as well go and call on her, as I have nothing else to do."
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Where does Miss Toosey live?" said John Rossitter on Monday morning.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading It is impossible to define motives accurately, even our own.
ourselvespronounUS /aʊərˈselvz/
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is impossible to define motives accurately, even our own.
pulling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
Rossitter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where does Miss Toosey live?" said John Rossitter on Monday morning.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where does Miss Toosey live?" said John Rossitter on Monday morning.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
tear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I think I may as well go and call on her, as I have nothing else to do."
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I think I may as well go and call on her, as I have nothing else to do."
Toosey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where does Miss Toosey live?" said John Rossitter on Monday morning.
urged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I think I may as well go and call on her, as I have nothing else to do."
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I do not know what impelled him to go.
WhereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading "Where does Miss Toosey live?" said John Rossitter on Monday morning.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading We cannot say sometimes why we do a thing; every reason may be against it--common sense, habit, inclination, experience, duty, all may be pulling the other way, and yet we tear ourselves loose, and do the thing, urged by some invisible motive of whose existence we are hardly conscious.
