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 A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
acres
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
birth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
bluffadjectiveUS /blʌf/
direct and plain-spoken in manner, sometimes seeming rough
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.
brothers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no brothers or sisters.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.
comfortable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.
considered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
consisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
Cuthbert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.
descendednounUS /ˈdescended/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.
entrance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
event
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
existence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.
forty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
generally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
gentle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
immediate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.
important
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
Joshua
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
majority
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
misfortune
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
opinion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I had no brothers or sisters.
property
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
relate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
representative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.
sides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
sisters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no brothers or sisters.
sole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father, Joshua Cuthbert, died soon after I came to my majority, leaving me what he had considered a comfortable property.
stream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
truly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
value
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
Walter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading My mother died when I was a boy, and I, Walter Cuthbert, was left the sole representative of my immediate family.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This consisted of a large house and some forty acres of land, nearly the whole of which lay upon a bluff, which upon three sides descended to a little valley, through which ran a gentle stream.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A man's birth is generally considered the most important event of his existence, but I truly think that what I am about to relate was more important to me than my entrance into this world; because, had not these things happened, I am of the opinion that my life would have been of no value to me and my birth a misfortune.
