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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 Perhaps I could be philosophical too, if I were one of a big, happy family--but when one is all alone--" "All alone--when I'm here!
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
Ah
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From this reading "Ah, but you're Irish!
all
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From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps I could be philosophical too, if I were one of a big, happy family--but when one is all alone--" "All alone--when I'm here!
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
anxiety
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From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading How can you be all alone, when there are two of ye!" cried Jack impulsively.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Perhaps I could be philosophical too, if I were one of a big, happy family--but when one is all alone--" "All alone--when I'm here!
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps I could be philosophical too, if I were one of a big, happy family--but when one is all alone--" "All alone--when I'm here!
black
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From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Ah, but you're Irish!
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
care
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Perhaps I could be philosophical too, if I were one of a big, happy family--but when one is all alone--" "All alone--when I'm here!
criednounUS /cried/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading How can you be all alone, when there are two of ye!" cried Jack impulsively.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps I could be philosophical too, if I were one of a big, happy family--but when one is all alone--" "All alone--when I'm here!
fears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
forget
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
heavily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps I could be philosophical too, if I were one of a big, happy family--but when one is all alone--" "All alone--when I'm here!
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How can you be all alone, when there are two of ye!" cried Jack impulsively.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps I could be philosophical too, if I were one of a big, happy family--but when one is all alone--" "All alone--when I'm here!
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Perhaps I could be philosophical too, if I were one of a big, happy family--but when one is all alone--" "All alone--when I'm here!
imps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
impulsively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How can you be all alone, when there are two of ye!" cried Jack impulsively.
Irish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, but you're Irish!
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps I could be philosophical too, if I were one of a big, happy family--but when one is all alone--" "All alone--when I'm here!
Jack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How can you be all alone, when there are two of ye!" cried Jack impulsively.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Perhaps I could be philosophical too, if I were one of a big, happy family--but when one is all alone--" "All alone--when I'm here!
Perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps I could be philosophical too, if I were one of a big, happy family--but when one is all alone--" "All alone--when I'm here!
philosophical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps I could be philosophical too, if I were one of a big, happy family--but when one is all alone--" "All alone--when I'm here!
press
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
quaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
shoulders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
sit
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From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
temperament
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How can you be all alone, when there are two of ye!" cried Jack impulsively.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
throw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps I could be philosophical too, if I were one of a big, happy family--but when one is all alone--" "All alone--when I'm here!
troubles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How can you be all alone, when there are two of ye!" cried Jack impulsively.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading They sit right down upon my shoulders--little black imps of care, and anxiety, and quaking fears, and press so heavily that I can remember nothing else.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Perhaps I could be philosophical too, if I were one of a big, happy family--but when one is all alone--" "All alone--when I'm here!
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Perhaps I could be philosophical too, if I were one of a big, happy family--but when one is all alone--" "All alone--when I'm here!
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
yepronounUS /jiː/
an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person
From this reading How can you be all alone, when there are two of ye!" cried Jack impulsively.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You have the happy temperament which can throw off troubles and forget all about them for the time being.
you're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, but you're Irish!
