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 The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
afflicted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was all she cared to know.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Gwynneth knew now that there had been some mysterious wickedness before the burning of the church.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Gwynneth knew now that there had been some mysterious wickedness before the burning of the church.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading These were heroic qualities, no matter what vileness lay beneath or behind them; and the generous capacity for hero-worship was very strong in Gwynneth.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading These were heroic qualities, no matter what vileness lay beneath or behind them; and the generous capacity for hero-worship was very strong in Gwynneth.
benefit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
burning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gwynneth knew now that there had been some mysterious wickedness before the burning of the church.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
capacity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were heroic qualities, no matter what vileness lay beneath or behind them; and the generous capacity for hero-worship was very strong in Gwynneth.
cared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was all she cared to know.
church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gwynneth knew now that there had been some mysterious wickedness before the burning of the church.
consummate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What crime could warrant such hardness of heart in the face of such devotion, skill, patience, consummate endurance, and invincible determination?
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What crime could warrant such hardness of heart in the face of such devotion, skill, patience, consummate endurance, and invincible determination?
crime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What crime could warrant such hardness of heart in the face of such devotion, skill, patience, consummate endurance, and invincible determination?
cruelty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
determination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What crime could warrant such hardness of heart in the face of such devotion, skill, patience, consummate endurance, and invincible determination?
devotion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What crime could warrant such hardness of heart in the face of such devotion, skill, patience, consummate endurance, and invincible determination?
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
endurance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What crime could warrant such hardness of heart in the face of such devotion, skill, patience, consummate endurance, and invincible determination?
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What crime could warrant such hardness of heart in the face of such devotion, skill, patience, consummate endurance, and invincible determination?
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
generous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were heroic qualities, no matter what vileness lay beneath or behind them; and the generous capacity for hero-worship was very strong in Gwynneth.
Gwynneth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gwynneth knew now that there had been some mysterious wickedness before the burning of the church.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Gwynneth knew now that there had been some mysterious wickedness before the burning of the church.
hardness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What crime could warrant such hardness of heart in the face of such devotion, skill, patience, consummate endurance, and invincible determination?
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
hero-worship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were heroic qualities, no matter what vileness lay beneath or behind them; and the generous capacity for hero-worship was very strong in Gwynneth.
heroic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were heroic qualities, no matter what vileness lay beneath or behind them; and the generous capacity for hero-worship was very strong in Gwynneth.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
invincible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What crime could warrant such hardness of heart in the face of such devotion, skill, patience, consummate endurance, and invincible determination?
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was all she cared to know.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gwynneth knew now that there had been some mysterious wickedness before the burning of the church.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was all she cared to know.
labour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were heroic qualities, no matter what vileness lay beneath or behind them; and the generous capacity for hero-worship was very strong in Gwynneth.
lonely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were heroic qualities, no matter what vileness lay beneath or behind them; and the generous capacity for hero-worship was very strong in Gwynneth.
midst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
difficult to explain or understand
From this reading Gwynneth knew now that there had been some mysterious wickedness before the burning of the church.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading These were heroic qualities, no matter what vileness lay beneath or behind them; and the generous capacity for hero-worship was very strong in Gwynneth.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gwynneth knew now that there had been some mysterious wickedness before the burning of the church.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading These were heroic qualities, no matter what vileness lay beneath or behind them; and the generous capacity for hero-worship was very strong in Gwynneth.
patience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What crime could warrant such hardness of heart in the face of such devotion, skill, patience, consummate endurance, and invincible determination?
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
performed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
personal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
prodigies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
qualities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were heroic qualities, no matter what vileness lay beneath or behind them; and the generous capacity for hero-worship was very strong in Gwynneth.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was all she cared to know.
skill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What crime could warrant such hardness of heart in the face of such devotion, skill, patience, consummate endurance, and invincible determination?
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gwynneth knew now that there had been some mysterious wickedness before the burning of the church.
spasmodically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were heroic qualities, no matter what vileness lay beneath or behind them; and the generous capacity for hero-worship was very strong in Gwynneth.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading What crime could warrant such hardness of heart in the face of such devotion, skill, patience, consummate endurance, and invincible determination?
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Gwynneth knew now that there had been some mysterious wickedness before the burning of the church.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading These were heroic qualities, no matter what vileness lay beneath or behind them; and the generous capacity for hero-worship was very strong in Gwynneth.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These were heroic qualities, no matter what vileness lay beneath or behind them; and the generous capacity for hero-worship was very strong in Gwynneth.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was all she cared to know.
unaided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
unforgiven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
vileness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were heroic qualities, no matter what vileness lay beneath or behind them; and the generous capacity for hero-worship was very strong in Gwynneth.
warrant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What crime could warrant such hardness of heart in the face of such devotion, skill, patience, consummate endurance, and invincible determination?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What crime could warrant such hardness of heart in the face of such devotion, skill, patience, consummate endurance, and invincible determination?
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
wickedness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gwynneth knew now that there had been some mysterious wickedness before the burning of the church.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought afflicted her with a sense of personal hardness and cruelty; there was this lonely man, doing the work of ten, not spasmodically, but day after day, and year after year, still unaided and unforgiven by the very people in whose midst and for whose benefit those prodigies of labour were being performed.
