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 I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
alive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I owned I had something which very much troubled me, but at the same time told her I could not speak of it to any one alive.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I owned I had something which very much troubled me, but at the same time told her I could not speak of it to any one alive.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I appeared melancholy and uneasy for several days, and she lay at me continually to know what trouble me.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I owned I had something which very much troubled me, but at the same time told her I could not speak of it to any one alive.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last I opened my case at a distance to my governess.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
circumstances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
continually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I appeared melancholy and uneasy for several days, and she lay at me continually to know what trouble me.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I appeared melancholy and uneasy for several days, and she lay at me continually to know what trouble me.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last I opened my case at a distance to my governess.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
exceedingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I appeared melancholy and uneasy for several days, and she lay at me continually to know what trouble me.
governess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last I opened my case at a distance to my governess.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
inexpressible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I appeared melancholy and uneasy for several days, and she lay at me continually to know what trouble me.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At last I opened my case at a distance to my governess.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I appeared melancholy and uneasy for several days, and she lay at me continually to know what trouble me.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
marriage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
melancholy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I appeared melancholy and uneasy for several days, and she lay at me continually to know what trouble me.
misfortune
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I owned I had something which very much troubled me, but at the same time told her I could not speak of it to any one alive.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
offer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I owned I had something which very much troubled me, but at the same time told her I could not speak of it to any one alive.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last I opened my case at a distance to my governess.
owned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I owned I had something which very much troubled me, but at the same time told her I could not speak of it to any one alive.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
reflect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I owned I had something which very much troubled me, but at the same time told her I could not speak of it to any one alive.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
seriously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I appeared melancholy and uneasy for several days, and she lay at me continually to know what trouble me.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I appeared melancholy and uneasy for several days, and she lay at me continually to know what trouble me.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading I owned I had something which very much troubled me, but at the same time told her I could not speak of it to any one alive.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I owned I had something which very much troubled me, but at the same time told her I could not speak of it to any one alive.
surprisednounUS /surprised/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I owned I had something which very much troubled me, but at the same time told her I could not speak of it to any one alive.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I could not for my life tell her that I had an offer of marriage, after I had so often told her that I had a husband, so that I really knew not what to say to her.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I appeared melancholy and uneasy for several days, and she lay at me continually to know what trouble me.
troubled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I owned I had something which very much troubled me, but at the same time told her I could not speak of it to any one alive.
uneasy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I appeared melancholy and uneasy for several days, and she lay at me continually to know what trouble me.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I owned I had something which very much troubled me, but at the same time told her I could not speak of it to any one alive.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I was exceedingly surprised at the news, and began now seriously to reflect on my present circumstances, and the inexpressible misfortune it was to me to have a child upon my hands, and what to do in it I knew not.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I owned I had something which very much troubled me, but at the same time told her I could not speak of it to any one alive.
