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 But not only was solitude no longer to us what it had once been, but we found it a burden and constraint.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mamma was there no longer, and henceforth we were alone, we two alone with each other.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But not only was solitude no longer to us what it had once been, but we found it a burden and constraint.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
birth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
burden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not only was solitude no longer to us what it had once been, but we found it a burden and constraint.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
constraint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not only was solitude no longer to us what it had once been, but we found it a burden and constraint.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
desertedverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/
left a place or vessel without intending to return
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
drearily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Mamma was there no longer, and henceforth we were alone, we two alone with each other.
existence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But not only was solitude no longer to us what it had once been, but we found it a burden and constraint.
friendly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
furniture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But not only was solitude no longer to us what it had once been, but we found it a burden and constraint.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
health
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
henceforth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mamma was there no longer, and henceforth we were alone, we two alone with each other.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But not only was solitude no longer to us what it had once been, but we found it a burden and constraint.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mamma was there no longer, and henceforth we were alone, we two alone with each other.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
Mamma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mamma was there no longer, and henceforth we were alone, we two alone with each other.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
Nikolski
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Mamma was there no longer, and henceforth we were alone, we two alone with each other.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not only was solitude no longer to us what it had once been, but we found it a burden and constraint.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not only was solitude no longer to us what it had once been, but we found it a burden and constraint.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mamma was there no longer, and henceforth we were alone, we two alone with each other.
OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
Petersburg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
recovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
relations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
remind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
solitude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not only was solitude no longer to us what it had once been, but we found it a burden and constraint.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mamma was there no longer, and henceforth we were alone, we two alone with each other.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mamma was there no longer, and henceforth we were alone, we two alone with each other.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But not only was solitude no longer to us what it had once been, but we found it a burden and constraint.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My relations with my husband continued cold and friendly, as at St. Petersburg; but here in the country there was not a floor, not a wall, not a piece of furniture, which did not remind me of what he had been to me, and what I had lost.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Mamma was there no longer, and henceforth we were alone, we two alone with each other.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mamma was there no longer, and henceforth we were alone, we two alone with each other.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But not only was solitude no longer to us what it had once been, but we found it a burden and constraint.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Our house at Nikolski, so long cold and deserted, came to life again; but the thing which did not come to life was our old existence.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter passed all the more drearily for me from my being out of health, and it was not until some time after the birth of my second son that I recovered my strength.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mamma was there no longer, and henceforth we were alone, we two alone with each other.
