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 TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
age
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
AlasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading Alas! how few of Nature’s faces there are to gladden us with their beauty!
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Alas! how few of Nature’s faces there are to gladden us with their beauty!
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
BEauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
beauty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alas! how few of Nature’s faces there are to gladden us with their beauty!
bent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
BUTconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
cares
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
change
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
clouds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was no unfit messenger of death that had disturbed the quiet of the matron’s room.
distorted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
disturbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was no unfit messenger of death that had disturbed the quiet of the matron’s room.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
faces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alas! how few of Nature’s faces there are to gladden us with their beauty!
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alas! how few of Nature’s faces there are to gladden us with their beauty!
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
FOUNDnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
gladden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alas! how few of Nature’s faces there are to gladden us with their beauty!
grotesque
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading IT was no unfit messenger of death that had disturbed the quiet of the matron’s room.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
hearts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
heaven's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
HISTORY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alas! how few of Nature’s faces there are to gladden us with their beauty!
hungerings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
IMPORTANCE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
ITpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IT was no unfit messenger of death that had disturbed the quiet of the matron’s room.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
leernounUS /lɪr/
an unpleasant look showing unwanted interest or amusement
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
limbs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
matron's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was no unfit messenger of death that had disturbed the quiet of the matron’s room.
MAYmodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
messenger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was no unfit messenger of death that had disturbed the quiet of the matron’s room.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
mumbling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
Nature's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading IT was no unfit messenger of death that had disturbed the quiet of the matron’s room.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
ONEpronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
palsy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
passions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
pencil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
POORnounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was no unfit messenger of death that had disturbed the quiet of the matron’s room.
resembled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was no unfit messenger of death that had disturbed the quiet of the matron’s room.
shaping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
SHORTadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
sleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
sorrows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
SUBJECT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
surface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading IT was no unfit messenger of death that had disturbed the quiet of the matron’s room.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IT was no unfit messenger of death that had disturbed the quiet of the matron’s room.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Alas! how few of Nature’s faces there are to gladden us with their beauty!
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alas! how few of Nature’s faces there are to gladden us with their beauty!
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
THISdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Alas! how few of Nature’s faces there are to gladden us with their beauty!
TREATS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
trembled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
troubled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
unfit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was no unfit messenger of death that had disturbed the quiet of the matron’s room.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Alas! how few of Nature’s faces there are to gladden us with their beauty!
VERY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TREATS OF A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IT was no unfit messenger of death that had disturbed the quiet of the matron’s room.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her body was bent by age, her limbs trembled with palsy, and her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil than the work of Nature’s hand.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cares, and sorrows, and hungerings of the world change them as they change hearts, and it is only when those passions sleep, and have lost their hold for ever, that the troubled clouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear.
