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 A thing to protect, to soothe, to shelter--oh, how dear it is to the pride of man!
amidstprepositionUS /əˈmɪdst/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading IT may seem strange, but Maltravers had never loved Lady Florence as he did now.
Away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
birds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
bloomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
brave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading IT may seem strange, but Maltravers had never loved Lady Florence as he did now.
church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
CRABBE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CRABBE.
dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thing to protect, to soothe, to shelter--oh, how dear it is to the pride of man!
dearer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
decayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading IT may seem strange, but Maltravers had never loved Lady Florence as he did now.
doted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
fade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
Florence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT may seem strange, but Maltravers had never loved Lady Florence as he did now.
form
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading IT may seem strange, but Maltravers had never loved Lady Florence as he did now.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IT may seem strange, but Maltravers had never loved Lady Florence as he did now.
hopes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thing to protect, to soothe, to shelter--oh, how dear it is to the pride of man!
hues
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A thing to protect, to soothe, to shelter--oh, how dear it is to the pride of man!
ITpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IT may seem strange, but Maltravers had never loved Lady Florence as he did now.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
Lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT may seem strange, but Maltravers had never loved Lady Florence as he did now.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
loved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT may seem strange, but Maltravers had never loved Lady Florence as he did now.
loveliness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
makes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
Maltravers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT may seem strange, but Maltravers had never loved Lady Florence as he did now.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thing to protect, to soothe, to shelter--oh, how dear it is to the pride of man!
marble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading IT may seem strange, but Maltravers had never loved Lady Florence as he did now.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
mortality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IT may seem strange, but Maltravers had never loved Lady Florence as he did now.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT may seem strange, but Maltravers had never loved Lady Florence as he did now.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
oh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thing to protect, to soothe, to shelter--oh, how dear it is to the pride of man!
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
pains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
perversity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
pride
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thing to protect, to soothe, to shelter--oh, how dear it is to the pride of man!
proportion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
protect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thing to protect, to soothe, to shelter--oh, how dear it is to the pride of man!
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT may seem strange, but Maltravers had never loved Lady Florence as he did now.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
shelter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thing to protect, to soothe, to shelter--oh, how dear it is to the pride of man!
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
skies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
soothe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thing to protect, to soothe, to shelter--oh, how dear it is to the pride of man!
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT may seem strange, but Maltravers had never loved Lady Florence as he did now.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A thing to protect, to soothe, to shelter--oh, how dear it is to the pride of man!
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
unfolded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
vanish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Away, my friends, why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show?"
wing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it the perversity of human nature that makes the things of mortality dearer to us in proportion as they fade from our hopes, like birds whose hues are only unfolded when they take wing and vanish amidst the skies; or was it that he had ever doted more on loveliness of mind than that of form, and the first bloomed out the more, the more the last decayed?
