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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 Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
absorbing
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From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
all
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From this reading It was the time when his mother and grandmother were dining, and his nurse and all the other servants were down below.
always
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From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A warning knock came upon the bedroom door, and that particular story was cut short never to be resumed.
any
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From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
audible
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From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A warning knock came upon the bedroom door, and that particular story was cut short never to be resumed.
become
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
bedroom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A warning knock came upon the bedroom door, and that particular story was cut short never to be resumed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading It was the time when his mother and grandmother were dining, and his nurse and all the other servants were down below.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A warning knock came upon the bedroom door, and that particular story was cut short never to be resumed.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
cot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
cut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A warning knock came upon the bedroom door, and that particular story was cut short never to be resumed.
daylight
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From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
deepest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
dialogue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
dining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the time when his mother and grandmother were dining, and his nurse and all the other servants were down below.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A warning knock came upon the bedroom door, and that particular story was cut short never to be resumed.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the time when his mother and grandmother were dining, and his nurse and all the other servants were down below.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
grandmother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the time when his mother and grandmother were dining, and his nurse and all the other servants were down below.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
hugged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
knock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A warning knock came upon the bedroom door, and that particular story was cut short never to be resumed.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the time when his mother and grandmother were dining, and his nurse and all the other servants were down below.
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A warning knock came upon the bedroom door, and that particular story was cut short never to be resumed.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had not thought that it was possible that he could have been overheard.
nurse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the time when his mother and grandmother were dining, and his nurse and all the other servants were down below.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
Once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the time when his mother and grandmother were dining, and his nurse and all the other servants were down below.
overheardnounUS /ˈoverheard/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He had not thought that it was possible that he could have been overheard.
particular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A warning knock came upon the bedroom door, and that particular story was cut short never to be resumed.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had not thought that it was possible that he could have been overheard.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
resumednounUS /ˈresumed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A warning knock came upon the bedroom door, and that particular story was cut short never to be resumed.
secrets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
servants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the time when his mother and grandmother were dining, and his nurse and all the other servants were down below.
shame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading A warning knock came upon the bedroom door, and that particular story was cut short never to be resumed.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
summer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
telling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had not thought that it was possible that he could have been overheard.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A warning knock came upon the bedroom door, and that particular story was cut short never to be resumed.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
warning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A warning knock came upon the bedroom door, and that particular story was cut short never to be resumed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was the time when his mother and grandmother were dining, and his nurse and all the other servants were down below.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
whiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once on a summer’s evening, when he had been lying in his little cot by his mother’s bed, whiling away the long daylight hour by telling himself a most absorbing story, which at that time he was going through from night to night, he had become so worked up by it that he carried on the dialogue in a clear audible voice.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had always hugged secrets to himself ever since he could remember, secrets that it would have seemed to him the deepest shame that any one should surprise.
