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 She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
bear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If Mary had but been left to her young sister's sympathy, Winnie would (or thought she would) have lavished tenderness upon her.
belly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why did not he stay where he was, and fill his belly with the husks?
brother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If Mary had but been left to her young sister's sympathy, Winnie would (or thought she would) have lavished tenderness upon her.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading What did the fellow mean by coming home?
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did the fellow mean by coming home?
consecrated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading What did the fellow mean by coming home?
disgusted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
disreputable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
EverybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
fellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did the fellow mean by coming home?
fill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why did not he stay where he was, and fill his belly with the husks?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
hardest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If Mary had but been left to her young sister's sympathy, Winnie would (or thought she would) have lavished tenderness upon her.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Why did not he stay where he was, and fill his belly with the husks?
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading If Mary had but been left to her young sister's sympathy, Winnie would (or thought she would) have lavished tenderness upon her.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did the fellow mean by coming home?
husks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why did not he stay where he was, and fill his belly with the husks?
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Mary had but been left to her young sister's sympathy, Winnie would (or thought she would) have lavished tenderness upon her.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
lavished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mary had but been left to her young sister's sympathy, Winnie would (or thought she would) have lavished tenderness upon her.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If Mary had but been left to her young sister's sympathy, Winnie would (or thought she would) have lavished tenderness upon her.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
Mary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mary had but been left to her young sister's sympathy, Winnie would (or thought she would) have lavished tenderness upon her.
mean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did the fellow mean by coming home?
merry-making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
midst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Why did not he stay where he was, and fill his belly with the husks?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If Mary had but been left to her young sister's sympathy, Winnie would (or thought she would) have lavished tenderness upon her.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
prodigal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
respectable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
sister's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mary had but been left to her young sister's sympathy, Winnie would (or thought she would) have lavished tenderness upon her.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
stay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why did not he stay where he was, and fill his belly with the husks?
sympathy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
tenderness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mary had but been left to her young sister's sympathy, Winnie would (or thought she would) have lavished tenderness upon her.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If Mary had but been left to her young sister's sympathy, Winnie would (or thought she would) have lavished tenderness upon her.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading If Mary had but been left to her young sister's sympathy, Winnie would (or thought she would) have lavished tenderness upon her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Why did not he stay where he was, and fill his belly with the husks?
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading She was like the respectable son who came in disgusted into the midst of a merry-making all consecrated to the return of his disreputable prodigal brother.
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why did not he stay where he was, and fill his belly with the husks?
Winnie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Everybody has sympathy with my sister," was what Winnie had said; and perhaps that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If Mary had but been left to her young sister's sympathy, Winnie would (or thought she would) have lavished tenderness upon her.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mary had but been left to her young sister's sympathy, Winnie would (or thought she would) have lavished tenderness upon her.
