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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 Her parents hesitated for a long time, restrained by the young man's bad reputation.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
attachments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
bad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her parents hesitated for a long time, restrained by the young man's bad reputation.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
believes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
BesidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/
in addition to; as well as
From this reading Besides, for a shorter or longer period, he loved every woman who came within reach of his lips.
binding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Her parents hesitated for a long time, restrained by the young man's bad reputation.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, for a shorter or longer period, he loved every woman who came within reach of his lips.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
decided
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From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he settled down and refused, even once, to see the one with whom he had lived for so long.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then he settled down and refused, even once, to see the one with whom he had lived for so long.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Besides, for a shorter or longer period, he loved every woman who came within reach of his lips.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
fully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her parents hesitated for a long time, restrained by the young man's bad reputation.
hesitated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her parents hesitated for a long time, restrained by the young man's bad reputation.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
lips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, for a shorter or longer period, he loved every woman who came within reach of his lips.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he settled down and refused, even once, to see the one with whom he had lived for so long.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her parents hesitated for a long time, restrained by the young man's bad reputation.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, for a shorter or longer period, he loved every woman who came within reach of his lips.
loved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, for a shorter or longer period, he loved every woman who came within reach of his lips.
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her parents hesitated for a long time, restrained by the young man's bad reputation.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he settled down and refused, even once, to see the one with whom he had lived for so long.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
parents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her parents hesitated for a long time, restrained by the young man's bad reputation.
period
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, for a shorter or longer period, he loved every woman who came within reach of his lips.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, for a shorter or longer period, he loved every woman who came within reach of his lips.
refused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he settled down and refused, even once, to see the one with whom he had lived for so long.
reputation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her parents hesitated for a long time, restrained by the young man's bad reputation.
restrained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her parents hesitated for a long time, restrained by the young man's bad reputation.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he settled down and refused, even once, to see the one with whom he had lived for so long.
settled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he settled down and refused, even once, to see the one with whom he had lived for so long.
shorter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, for a shorter or longer period, he loved every woman who came within reach of his lips.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Then he settled down and refused, even once, to see the one with whom he had lived for so long.
sweetheart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Her parents hesitated for a long time, restrained by the young man's bad reputation.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he settled down and refused, even once, to see the one with whom he had lived for so long.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her parents hesitated for a long time, restrained by the young man's bad reputation.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Besides, for a shorter or longer period, he loved every woman who came within reach of his lips.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then he settled down and refused, even once, to see the one with whom he had lived for so long.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not know or understand, but he had fully decided to have this child for his wife.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then he settled down and refused, even once, to see the one with whom he had lived for so long.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Besides, for a shorter or longer period, he loved every woman who came within reach of his lips.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, for a shorter or longer period, he loved every woman who came within reach of his lips.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading It was said that he had an old sweetheart, one of these binding attachments which one always believes to be broken off and yet which always hold.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her parents hesitated for a long time, restrained by the young man's bad reputation.
