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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 All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
any
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From this reading I can't remain here and keep any shred of self-respect.
apathetically
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From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
ask
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From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
back
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From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
borrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I can't remain here and keep any shred of self-respect.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
compelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
crime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
decision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
divorce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
divorced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
finished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I can't remain here and keep any shred of self-respect.
humiliating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I can't remain here and keep any shred of self-respect.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I can't remain here and keep any shred of self-respect.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
lock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
pushing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
remain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I can't remain here and keep any shred of self-respect.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
self-respect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I can't remain here and keep any shred of self-respect.
shred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I can't remain here and keep any shred of self-respect.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
taught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
Val
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
