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 I desperately want a stepmother for my children, but I frankly own that at present I am not a family man—I am too much of a rover to settle down.
abrupt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
Anstice
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From this reading THE STRANGE MARRIAGE ON Monday morning, Anstice was surprised to get the following letter from Justin Holme:
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I was ill at ease, and did not control my feelings.
background
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From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
BARRETT
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From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I desperately want a stepmother for my children, but I frankly own that at present I am not a family man—I am too much of a rover to settle down.
children
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From this reading I desperately want a stepmother for my children, but I frankly own that at present I am not a family man—I am too much of a rover to settle down.
control
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From this reading I was ill at ease, and did not control my feelings.
DEAR
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From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
desperately
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From this reading I desperately want a stepmother for my children, but I frankly own that at present I am not a family man—I am too much of a rover to settle down.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I was ill at ease, and did not control my feelings.
down
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From this reading I desperately want a stepmother for my children, but I frankly own that at present I am not a family man—I am too much of a rover to settle down.
ease
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From this reading I was ill at ease, and did not control my feelings.
family
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From this reading I desperately want a stepmother for my children, but I frankly own that at present I am not a family man—I am too much of a rover to settle down.
feel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
feelings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ill at ease, and did not control my feelings.
following
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From this reading THE STRANGE MARRIAGE ON Monday morning, Anstice was surprised to get the following letter from Justin Holme:
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I desperately want a stepmother for my children, but I frankly own that at present I am not a family man—I am too much of a rover to settle down.
frankly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I desperately want a stepmother for my children, but I frankly own that at present I am not a family man—I am too much of a rover to settle down.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE STRANGE MARRIAGE ON Monday morning, Anstice was surprised to get the following letter from Justin Holme:
gained
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From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
get
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From this reading THE STRANGE MARRIAGE ON Monday morning, Anstice was surprised to get the following letter from Justin Holme:
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
Holme
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From this reading THE STRANGE MARRIAGE ON Monday morning, Anstice was surprised to get the following letter from Justin Holme:
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
ill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ill at ease, and did not control my feelings.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
interview
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
Justin
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From this reading THE STRANGE MARRIAGE ON Monday morning, Anstice was surprised to get the following letter from Justin Holme:
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
letter
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From this reading THE STRANGE MARRIAGE ON Monday morning, Anstice was surprised to get the following letter from Justin Holme:
liking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I desperately want a stepmother for my children, but I frankly own that at present I am not a family man—I am too much of a rover to settle down.
MARRIAGE
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From this reading THE STRANGE MARRIAGE ON Monday morning, Anstice was surprised to get the following letter from Justin Holme:
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
MISS
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From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
Monday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRANGE MARRIAGE ON Monday morning, Anstice was surprised to get the following letter from Justin Holme:
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE STRANGE MARRIAGE ON Monday morning, Anstice was surprised to get the following letter from Justin Holme:
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I was ill at ease, and did not control my feelings.
needs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I was ill at ease, and did not control my feelings.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I desperately want a stepmother for my children, but I frankly own that at present I am not a family man—I am too much of a rover to settle down.
ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE STRANGE MARRIAGE ON Monday morning, Anstice was surprised to get the following letter from Justin Holme:
oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I desperately want a stepmother for my children, but I frankly own that at present I am not a family man—I am too much of a rover to settle down.
peremptory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
prejudiced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I desperately want a stepmother for my children, but I frankly own that at present I am not a family man—I am too much of a rover to settle down.
realize
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
rover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I desperately want a stepmother for my children, but I frankly own that at present I am not a family man—I am too much of a rover to settle down.
rude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
rushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
settle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I desperately want a stepmother for my children, but I frankly own that at present I am not a family man—I am too much of a rover to settle down.
startnounUS /start/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
stepmother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I desperately want a stepmother for my children, but I frankly own that at present I am not a family man—I am too much of a rover to settle down.
STRANGE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRANGE MARRIAGE ON Monday morning, Anstice was surprised to get the following letter from Justin Holme:
surprisednounUS /surprised/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE STRANGE MARRIAGE ON Monday morning, Anstice was surprised to get the following letter from Justin Holme:
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STRANGE MARRIAGE ON Monday morning, Anstice was surprised to get the following letter from Justin Holme:
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE STRANGE MARRIAGE ON Monday morning, Anstice was surprised to get the following letter from Justin Holme:
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I desperately want a stepmother for my children, but I frankly own that at present I am not a family man—I am too much of a rover to settle down.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE STRANGE MARRIAGE ON Monday morning, Anstice was surprised to get the following letter from Justin Holme:
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
yesterday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "DEAR MISS BARRETT,— "I am writing to you, because I feel that in our interview yesterday I was rude, abrupt, and much too peremptory.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Now I realize that I prejudiced you against me to start with; I rushed into my needs when I ought to have kept them in the background till I had gained your liking.
