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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 A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
according
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From this reading The great events of life rarely happen according to our will.
advantages
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From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
all
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From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
appropriateness
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From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.
argumentnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənt/
a reason or example used to support an idea
From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
better
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From this reading We live when we should do much better to die, and we die sometimes when every circumstance calls upon us to live.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
calls
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From this reading We live when we should do much better to die, and we die sometimes when every circumstance calls upon us to live.
cannot
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From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
character
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From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.
circumstance
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From this reading We live when we should do much better to die, and we die sometimes when every circumstance calls upon us to live.
conclusion
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From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.
destructive
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From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.
die
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From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
dignity
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From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.
disclosure
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From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading We live when we should do much better to die, and we die sometimes when every circumstance calls upon us to live.
dreary
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From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.
drivels
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From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.
event
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From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
events
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From this reading The great events of life rarely happen according to our will.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
existence
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From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.
favour
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From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
force
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From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.
God
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From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
grace
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From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The great events of life rarely happen according to our will.
happen
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From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
kept
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From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The great events of life rarely happen according to our will.
live
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From this reading We live when we should do much better to die, and we die sometimes when every circumstance calls upon us to live.
made
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From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
man
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From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
moment
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From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.
most
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From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
much
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From this reading We live when we should do much better to die, and we die sometimes when every circumstance calls upon us to live.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The great events of life rarely happen according to our will.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
palpable
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From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
passes
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From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.
postscript
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From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.
rarely
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From this reading The great events of life rarely happen according to our will.
reflected
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From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
satisfactory
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From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.
saying
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From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
seaside
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From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
season
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
sometimes
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From this reading We live when we should do much better to die, and we die sometimes when every circumstance calls upon us to live.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
tragedy
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From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.
UnlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading We live when we should do much better to die, and we die sometimes when every circumstance calls upon us to live.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We live when we should do much better to die, and we die sometimes when every circumstance calls upon us to live.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We live when we should do much better to die, and we die sometimes when every circumstance calls upon us to live.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “Unless, by the grace of God, something should happen”--that was what he kept saying to himself when he reflected on the disclosure which must be made when the seaside season was over.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The great events of life rarely happen according to our will.
wishes
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From this reading A man cannot die when he wishes it, though there should be every argument in favour of such an event, and its advantages most palpable.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The moment passes in which that conclusion would have all the force and satisfactory character of a great tragedy, and a dreary postscript of existence drivels on, destructive of all dignity and appropriateness.