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 born in Warsaw, where my parents at the time had a temporary home.
adopted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why I adopted it, instead of bearing my father's, you will understand directly.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
bearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why I adopted it, instead of bearing my father's, you will understand directly.
beautiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
begin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was born in Warsaw, where my parents at the time had a temporary home.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
directlynounUS /ˈdirectly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Why I adopted it, instead of bearing my father's, you will understand directly.
distinctly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
father's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why I adopted it, instead of bearing my father's, you will understand directly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I was born in Warsaw, where my parents at the time had a temporary home.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was born in Warsaw, where my parents at the time had a temporary home.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oh, how well I can recall those songs!"
Hungarian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I was born in Warsaw, where my parents at the time had a temporary home.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why I adopted it, instead of bearing my father's, you will understand directly.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
maidennoun, literaryUS /ˈmeɪdən/
a young woman who is not married
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Why I adopted it, instead of bearing my father's, you will understand directly.
Oh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oh, how well I can recall those songs!"
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
parents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was born in Warsaw, where my parents at the time had a temporary home.
Petrovitch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
Polowski
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
recall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oh, how well I can recall those songs!"
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
seven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
sing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
songs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
sweetest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
temporary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was born in Warsaw, where my parents at the time had a temporary home.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I was born in Warsaw, where my parents at the time had a temporary home.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Oh, how well I can recall those songs!"
ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was born in Warsaw, where my parents at the time had a temporary home.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Why I adopted it, instead of bearing my father's, you will understand directly.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
Warsaw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was born in Warsaw, where my parents at the time had a temporary home.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oh, how well I can recall those songs!"
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading I was born in Warsaw, where my parents at the time had a temporary home.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why I adopted it, instead of bearing my father's, you will understand directly.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Why I adopted it, instead of bearing my father's, you will understand directly.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though she died when I was only seven years old, I can distinctly remember my mother as a tall, beautiful Hungarian woman, who used to sing me the sweetest songs I have ever heard in my life every evening when I went to bed.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "To begin with, I must tell you that my name is not Petrovitch at all: it is Polowski; Petrovitch was my mother's maiden name.
