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 My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
age
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus I lost both my parents at too early an age to retain the slightest recollection of them.
All
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From this reading All that I can do is to dwell upon it as briefly as possible.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Thus I lost both my parents at too early an age to retain the slightest recollection of them.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All that I can do is to dwell upon it as briefly as possible.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Thus I lost both my parents at too early an age to retain the slightest recollection of them.
aversion
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From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading Thus I lost both my parents at too early an age to retain the slightest recollection of them.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
briefly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All that I can do is to dwell upon it as briefly as possible.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading All that I can do is to dwell upon it as briefly as possible.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
child-life
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading All that I can do is to dwell upon it as briefly as possible.
dwell
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From this reading All that I can do is to dwell upon it as briefly as possible.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus I lost both my parents at too early an age to retain the slightest recollection of them.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
half-brother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
hated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
incomplete
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All that I can do is to dwell upon it as briefly as possible.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus I lost both my parents at too early an age to retain the slightest recollection of them.
Louis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
marriage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
married
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
mention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
necessary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
parents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus I lost both my parents at too early an age to retain the slightest recollection of them.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All that I can do is to dwell upon it as briefly as possible.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
recollection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus I lost both my parents at too early an age to retain the slightest recollection of them.
record
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
regarded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
retain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus I lost both my parents at too early an age to retain the slightest recollection of them.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
slightest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus I lost both my parents at too early an age to retain the slightest recollection of them.
stepmother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
stronger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All that I can do is to dwell upon it as briefly as possible.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Thus I lost both my parents at too early an age to retain the slightest recollection of them.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Thus I lost both my parents at too early an age to retain the slightest recollection of them.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
Thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus I lost both my parents at too early an age to retain the slightest recollection of them.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus I lost both my parents at too early an age to retain the slightest recollection of them.
twelve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading All that I can do is to dwell upon it as briefly as possible.
waited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
Wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
widow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading By his second marriage my father had one child, a boy; my half-brother's name was Louis, and by him and my stepmother I was regarded with aversion--by her, indeed, with a much stronger feeling, for when I was old enough to reason out things for myself I learned that she hated me.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Were it not necessary I would make no mention of my child-life, but this record would be incomplete were I to pass it over in silence.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died a few weeks after I was born; my father waited but twelve months before he married again, and in less than two years his second wife was a widow.
