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 sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
afraid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not afraid to die.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
asking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And God had taken him at his word.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been very near death once before, and had not shrunk from meeting it _as_ death.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had been very near death once before, and had not shrunk from meeting it _as_ death.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
cottage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been very near death once before, and had not shrunk from meeting it _as_ death.
die
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not afraid to die.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
dreaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
dying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had been very near death once before, and had not shrunk from meeting it _as_ death.
God
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And God had taken him at his word.
grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
growing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And God had taken him at his word.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
meeting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been very near death once before, and had not shrunk from meeting it _as_ death.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been very near death once before, and had not shrunk from meeting it _as_ death.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not afraid to die.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been very near death once before, and had not shrunk from meeting it _as_ death.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
Rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
shrunk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been very near death once before, and had not shrunk from meeting it _as_ death.
sick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
Susan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And God had taken him at his word.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been very near death once before, and had not shrunk from meeting it _as_ death.
violets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was not afraid to die.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only the dying from home he had dreaded so much, asking to live till he could see his mother again, and the grass growing by the cottage door, and the violets by the well.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
whispered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And God had taken him at his word.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sick boy whispered the words a great many times to himself, as with his face to the wall, where neither his mother nor Susan could see it, he thought of what Rose had read, and wondered if it were true.
