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 "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
accumulated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You have always believed me poor; but I leave you an immense fortune accumulated by my _avarice_.
always
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From this reading "You have always believed me poor; but I leave you an immense fortune accumulated by my _avarice_.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I have been _miserly_, and do not attempt to excuse my fault; far from it, I am proud of it and glory in it.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "You have always believed me poor; but I leave you an immense fortune accumulated by my _avarice_.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The testament had been written two months previous and was in these terms:
attempt
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From this reading "I have been _miserly_, and do not attempt to excuse my fault; far from it, I am proud of it and glory in it.
augmenting
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From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
avaricenounUS /ˈæv.ər.ɪs/
Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
From this reading "You have always believed me poor; but I leave you an immense fortune accumulated by my _avarice_.
becomes
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From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The testament had been written two months previous and was in these terms:
believed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You have always believed me poor; but I leave you an immense fortune accumulated by my _avarice_.
BELOVED
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From this reading "MY BELOVED SON:" "When you read these lines I shall have ceased to live."
birth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "You have always believed me poor; but I leave you an immense fortune accumulated by my _avarice_.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "You have always believed me poor; but I leave you an immense fortune accumulated by my _avarice_.
ceased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "MY BELOVED SON:" "When you read these lines I shall have ceased to live."
day
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From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
developing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "I have been _miserly_, and do not attempt to excuse my fault; far from it, I am proud of it and glory in it.
dowry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
economy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
excuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I have been _miserly_, and do not attempt to excuse my fault; far from it, I am proud of it and glory in it.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I have been _miserly_, and do not attempt to excuse my fault; far from it, I am proud of it and glory in it.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
fault
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I have been _miserly_, and do not attempt to excuse my fault; far from it, I am proud of it and glory in it.
finally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
foresight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
fortunenounUS /ˈfortune/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "You have always believed me poor; but I leave you an immense fortune accumulated by my _avarice_.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "I have been _miserly_, and do not attempt to excuse my fault; far from it, I am proud of it and glory in it.
glory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I have been _miserly_, and do not attempt to excuse my fault; far from it, I am proud of it and glory in it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The testament had been written two months previous and was in these terms:
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "MY BELOVED SON:" "When you read these lines I shall have ceased to live."
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "MY BELOVED SON:" "When you read these lines I shall have ceased to live."
immense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You have always believed me poor; but I leave you an immense fortune accumulated by my _avarice_.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The testament had been written two months previous and was in these terms:
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I have been _miserly_, and do not attempt to excuse my fault; far from it, I am proud of it and glory in it.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You have always believed me poor; but I leave you an immense fortune accumulated by my _avarice_.
lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "MY BELOVED SON:" "When you read these lines I shall have ceased to live."
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "MY BELOVED SON:" "When you read these lines I shall have ceased to live."
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "You have always believed me poor; but I leave you an immense fortune accumulated by my _avarice_.
miserly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I have been _miserly_, and do not attempt to excuse my fault; far from it, I am proud of it and glory in it.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The testament had been written two months previous and was in these terms:
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
MYdeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "MY BELOVED SON:" "When you read these lines I shall have ceased to live."
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I have been _miserly_, and do not attempt to excuse my fault; far from it, I am proud of it and glory in it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I have been _miserly_, and do not attempt to excuse my fault; far from it, I am proud of it and glory in it.
parsimony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
patrimony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "You have always believed me poor; but I leave you an immense fortune accumulated by my _avarice_.
possession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
previous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The testament had been written two months previous and was in these terms:
proud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I have been _miserly_, and do not attempt to excuse my fault; far from it, I am proud of it and glory in it.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "MY BELOVED SON:" "When you read these lines I shall have ceased to live."
robbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
sacred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
sentiment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "MY BELOVED SON:" "When you read these lines I shall have ceased to live."
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
SON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "MY BELOVED SON:" "When you read these lines I shall have ceased to live."
terms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The testament had been written two months previous and was in these terms:
testament
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The testament had been written two months previous and was in these terms:
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The testament had been written two months previous and was in these terms:
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The testament had been written two months previous and was in these terms:
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "MY BELOVED SON:" "When you read these lines I shall have ceased to live."
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The testament had been written two months previous and was in these terms:
unmindful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
UntilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The testament had been written two months previous and was in these terms:
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading "MY BELOVED SON:" "When you read these lines I shall have ceased to live."
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
written
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The testament had been written two months previous and was in these terms:
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "MY BELOVED SON:" "When you read these lines I shall have ceased to live."
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "And this is why: "Until the day of your birth, which robbed me of your mother, I was unmindful of augmenting my patrimony and the dowry brought me by my wife; the moment I had a son, however, that sentiment of foresight, which becomes a sacred duty to a father, took possession of me, developing slowly into a love of economy, then into parsimony, and finally into avarice.
