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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 As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
accumulated
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From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had found the relief of expression, which is confession, and had laid upon the older mind the burden of his terror.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
awakening
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From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
burden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had found the relief of expression, which is confession, and had laid upon the older mind the burden of his terror.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
called
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From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
carry
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From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
cast
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From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
ceased
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From this reading As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
character
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From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
comfortable
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From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
completion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
confession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had found the relief of expression, which is confession, and had laid upon the older mind the burden of his terror.
conspiracy
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From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
cunning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
daily
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From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
decency
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
early
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From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
easily
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From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
end
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From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
expression
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From this reading He had found the relief of expression, which is confession, and had laid upon the older mind the burden of his terror.
face
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From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
forbade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
forgiveness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had found the relief of expression, which is confession, and had laid upon the older mind the burden of his terror.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had found the relief of expression, which is confession, and had laid upon the older mind the burden of his terror.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had found the relief of expression, which is confession, and had laid upon the older mind the burden of his terror.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
invaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had found the relief of expression, which is confession, and had laid upon the older mind the burden of his terror.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
join
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From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
laid
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From this reading He had found the relief of expression, which is confession, and had laid upon the older mind the burden of his terror.
largely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
load
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From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had found the relief of expression, which is confession, and had laid upon the older mind the burden of his terror.
month
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
older
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had found the relief of expression, which is confession, and had laid upon the older mind the burden of his terror.
Once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
persuaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/
a feeling of comfort after worry or pain
From this reading He had found the relief of expression, which is confession, and had laid upon the older mind the burden of his terror.
religious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
repeat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
resentment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
resisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
result
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
self-reliant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
sensation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
sophistry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
stage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
stalwart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
stern-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
terror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had found the relief of expression, which is confession, and had laid upon the older mind the burden of his terror.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had found the relief of expression, which is confession, and had laid upon the older mind the burden of his terror.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
Tommy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a result of having told everything to his father, Tommy's nightmare, however, largely ceased to trouble him.
troubles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He had found the relief of expression, which is confession, and had laid upon the older mind the burden of his terror.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
vicarious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
wedge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once a month, once a week, or even daily if he wanted to, he could repeat the expression as the need for it accumulated, and the load which decency forbade being laid upon his mother, the stern-faced man could carry easily for him.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The comfortable sensation that forgiveness is the completion of confession invaded his awakening mind, and had he been older this thin end of a religious wedge might have persuaded him to join what his mother called that 'vast conspiracy.'
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had found the relief of expression, which is confession, and had laid upon the older mind the burden of his terror.
woke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even at this early stage there was something stalwart and self-reliant in his cast of character that resisted the cunning sophistry; vicarious relief woke resentment in him; he meant to face his troubles alone.
