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 bought a dictionary and a grammar, and worked hard in my moments of leisure.
absent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of Andrea, the absent son, she spoke often.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I bought a dictionary and a grammar, and worked hard in my moments of leisure.
Andrea
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From this reading Of Andrea, the absent son, she spoke often.
Annunziata
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
benefit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
bought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I bought a dictionary and a grammar, and worked hard in my moments of leisure.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
circumstances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
communication
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
confidencenounUS /ˈconfidence/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
daily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
described
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
dictionary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I bought a dictionary and a grammar, and worked hard in my moments of leisure.
dozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
exile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/
to show or communicate a feeling or idea
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
facts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
FRIENDS
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From this reading MAKING FRIENDS.
grammar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I bought a dictionary and a grammar, and worked hard in my moments of leisure.
haltingly
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From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I bought a dictionary and a grammar, and worked hard in my moments of leisure.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I bought a dictionary and a grammar, and worked hard in my moments of leisure.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I bought a dictionary and a grammar, and worked hard in my moments of leisure.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
Italian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
language
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
learnt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
leisure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I bought a dictionary and a grammar, and worked hard in my moments of leisure.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
lesson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
MAKING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAKING FRIENDS.
Marchesa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
Marchesina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
moments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I bought a dictionary and a grammar, and worked hard in my moments of leisure.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
moreoveradverbUS /mɔːˈroʊvər/
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I bought a dictionary and a grammar, and worked hard in my moments of leisure.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I bought a dictionary and a grammar, and worked hard in my moments of leisure.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of Andrea, the absent son, she spoke often.
open-hearted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
pour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
reserved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Of Andrea, the absent son, she spoke often.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of Andrea, the absent son, she spoke often.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of Andrea, the absent son, she spoke often.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
unbroken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
voluble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading My daily life, moreover, might be described as an almost unbroken Italian lesson, and it was not long before I began to understand what was said around me, and to express myself more or less haltingly in the language of my land of exile.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading A means of communication being thus opened up between myself and the Marchesina Annunziata, that open-hearted person began to take me into her confidence, and to pour out for my benefit a dozen little facts and circumstances which I might have lived all my life with the voluble, but reserved, Marchesa without ever having learnt.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I bought a dictionary and a grammar, and worked hard in my moments of leisure.
