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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 "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
age
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From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
amiable
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From this reading He was born to riches, and he was too amiable and easy-natured to ripen into wisdom.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
better
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From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
blessed
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From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
Braham
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From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
cannot
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From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
certain
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From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
choice
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From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
chosen
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From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
conditions
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From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
credited
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From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
dependence
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From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
direction
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From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
easy-natured
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From this reading He was born to riches, and he was too amiable and easy-natured to ripen into wisdom.
eighteen
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From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
Emilia
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From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
extent
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From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
few
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From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
Gerald
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From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
given
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From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
HALF-BROTHERS
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From this reading THE HALF-BROTHERS.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He was born to riches, and he was too amiable and easy-natured to ripen into wisdom.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
lie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
luck
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From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
lucky
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From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
master
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From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
met
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From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
opposite
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From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
own
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From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
Paget
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From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
place
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From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
position
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From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
proverb
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From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
proverbs
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From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
rich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
riches
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From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
ripen
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From this reading He was born to riches, and he was too amiable and easy-natured to ripen into wisdom.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HALF-BROTHERS.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
too
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From this reading He was born to riches, and he was too amiable and easy-natured to ripen into wisdom.
twenty-four
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From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was born to riches, and he was too amiable and easy-natured to ripen into wisdom.
wealthy
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From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
wisdom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
years
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From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.