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 IN WHICH PHIL STARTS FOR CHICAGO, AND HEARS A FAMILIAR NAME.
able
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From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
action
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From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
all
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From this reading Something seemed to reproach me for my coldness and neglect, though in fact I had done all I could to solve the difficulty.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL STARTS FOR CHICAGO, AND HEARS A FAMILIAR NAME.
any
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From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
appeared
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From this reading My grandfather appeared to be suspicious, and even heartless; but I knew that my mother was not so.
baby
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From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading My grandfather appeared to be suspicious, and even heartless; but I knew that my mother was not so.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
CHICAGO
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From this reading IN WHICH PHIL STARTS FOR CHICAGO, AND HEARS A FAMILIAR NAME.
coldness
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From this reading Something seemed to reproach me for my coldness and neglect, though in fact I had done all I could to solve the difficulty.
consciousness
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From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
criminal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
decided
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From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
difficulty
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From this reading Something seemed to reproach me for my coldness and neglect, though in fact I had done all I could to solve the difficulty.
disliked
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From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Something seemed to reproach me for my coldness and neglect, though in fact I had done all I could to solve the difficulty.
earnest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My grandfather appeared to be suspicious, and even heartless; but I knew that my mother was not so.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
fact
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From this reading Something seemed to reproach me for my coldness and neglect, though in fact I had done all I could to solve the difficulty.
FAMILIAR
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From this reading IN WHICH PHIL STARTS FOR CHICAGO, AND HEARS A FAMILIAR NAME.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL STARTS FOR CHICAGO, AND HEARS A FAMILIAR NAME.
gloomy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
grandfather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My grandfather appeared to be suspicious, and even heartless; but I knew that my mother was not so.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
HEARS
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From this reading IN WHICH PHIL STARTS FOR CHICAGO, AND HEARS A FAMILIAR NAME.
heartless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My grandfather appeared to be suspicious, and even heartless; but I knew that my mother was not so.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL STARTS FOR CHICAGO, AND HEARS A FAMILIAR NAME.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My grandfather appeared to be suspicious, and even heartless; but I knew that my mother was not so.
longer
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From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Something seemed to reproach me for my coldness and neglect, though in fact I had done all I could to solve the difficulty.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
NAMEnounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL STARTS FOR CHICAGO, AND HEARS A FAMILIAR NAME.
neglect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something seemed to reproach me for my coldness and neglect, though in fact I had done all I could to solve the difficulty.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
painful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
permit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
PHIL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL STARTS FOR CHICAGO, AND HEARS A FAMILIAR NAME.
postpone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
reproach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something seemed to reproach me for my coldness and neglect, though in fact I had done all I could to solve the difficulty.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
sad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
solve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something seemed to reproach me for my coldness and neglect, though in fact I had done all I could to solve the difficulty.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
SomethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Something seemed to reproach me for my coldness and neglect, though in fact I had done all I could to solve the difficulty.
STARTS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL STARTS FOR CHICAGO, AND HEARS A FAMILIAR NAME.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
suspicious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My grandfather appeared to be suspicious, and even heartless; but I knew that my mother was not so.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
thoroughly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Something seemed to reproach me for my coldness and neglect, though in fact I had done all I could to solve the difficulty.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
topic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My father was gloomy and sad, and I disliked to say anything more on the painful topic; but I was so thoroughly in earnest that I could not postpone some decided action.
WHICHpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL STARTS FOR CHICAGO, AND HEARS A FAMILIAR NAME.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed criminal to permit such a matter to rest any longer, and I wondered how I had been able to keep quiet two years with the consciousness that I had a mother whom I had seen only with my baby eyes.
