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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 In Petersburg in the eighteen-forties a surprising event occurred.
acted
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From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
aide-de-camp
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From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
all
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From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
appeared
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From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The widow herself, with her daughter, Varvara, moved to Petersburg to be near her son and have him with her for the holidays.
beautiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
become
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
brilliant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
broke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
career
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
College
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
colonel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
Cuirassier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
daughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The widow herself, with her daughter, Varvara, moved to Petersburg to be near her son and have him with her for the holidays.
deceased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
eighteen-forties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Petersburg in the eighteen-forties a surprising event occurred.
Emperor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
Empress's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
engagement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
estate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
event
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Petersburg in the eighteen-forties a surprising event occurred.
everyonepronounUS /ˈevriwʌn/
every person
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
extraordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
favourite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
Guards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
handsomenounUS /ˈhandsome/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The widow herself, with her daughter, Varvara, moved to Petersburg to be near her son and have him with her for the holidays.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
holidays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The widow herself, with her daughter, Varvara, moved to Petersburg to be near her son and have him with her for the holidays.
honour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
imaginenounUS /ˈimagine/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In Petersburg in the eighteen-forties a surprising event occurred.
inexplicablenounUS /inexplicable/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
inner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
intended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
Kasatsky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
LifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
maid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
Military
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
monastery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
monk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
motives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The widow herself, with her daughter, Varvara, moved to Petersburg to be near her son and have him with her for the holidays.
naturally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The widow herself, with her daughter, Varvara, moved to Petersburg to be near her son and have him with her for the holidays.
Nicholas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
occurred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Petersburg in the eighteen-forties a surprising event occurred.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
officer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
otherwise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
Petersburg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Petersburg in the eighteen-forties a surprising event occurred.
predicted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
prince
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
retiredverbUS /rɪˈtaɪərd/
went away to a private place
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
service
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
sorry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
Stepan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
surprising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Petersburg in the eighteen-forties a surprising event occurred.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In Petersburg in the eighteen-forties a surprising event occurred.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading This event appeared extraordinary and inexplicable to those who did not know his inner motives, but for Prince Stepan Kasatsky himself it all occurred so naturally that he could not imagine how he could have acted otherwise.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
twelve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
Varvara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The widow herself, with her daughter, Varvara, moved to Petersburg to be near her son and have him with her for the holidays.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading His father, a retired colonel of the Guards, had died when Stepan was twelve, and sorry as his mother was to part from her son, she entered him at the Military College as her deceased husband had intended.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
widow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The widow herself, with her daughter, Varvara, moved to Petersburg to be near her son and have him with her for the holidays.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The widow herself, with her daughter, Varvara, moved to Petersburg to be near her son and have him with her for the holidays.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress’s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk.
