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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 Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had hardly occurred to him, then, to question whether she would love him in return, it had appeared so very natural that she should.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Now he had found this maiden, and she had been very kind to him; but her kindness had been little better than cruelty, because he had demanded something more than kindness.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Now he had found this maiden, and she had been very kind to him; but her kindness had been little better than cruelty, because he had demanded something more than kindness.
beings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he had found this maiden, and she had been very kind to him; but her kindness had been little better than cruelty, because he had demanded something more than kindness.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Now he had found this maiden, and she had been very kind to him; but her kindness had been little better than cruelty, because he had demanded something more than kindness.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
created
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
cruelty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he had found this maiden, and she had been very kind to him; but her kindness had been little better than cruelty, because he had demanded something more than kindness.
demanded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he had found this maiden, and she had been very kind to him; but her kindness had been little better than cruelty, because he had demanded something more than kindness.
differences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now he had found this maiden, and she had been very kind to him; but her kindness had been little better than cruelty, because he had demanded something more than kindness.
God
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had hardly occurred to him, then, to question whether she would love him in return, it had appeared so very natural that she should.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
heavens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had hardly occurred to him, then, to question whether she would love him in return, it had appeared so very natural that she should.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he had found this maiden, and she had been very kind to him; but her kindness had been little better than cruelty, because he had demanded something more than kindness.
kindness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he had found this maiden, and she had been very kind to him; but her kindness had been little better than cruelty, because he had demanded something more than kindness.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now he had found this maiden, and she had been very kind to him; but her kindness had been little better than cruelty, because he had demanded something more than kindness.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
maidennoun, literaryUS /ˈmeɪdən/
a young woman who is not married
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
moon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he had found this maiden, and she had been very kind to him; but her kindness had been little better than cruelty, because he had demanded something more than kindness.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had hardly occurred to him, then, to question whether she would love him in return, it had appeared so very natural that she should.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And still he had never told her of his love.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he had found this maiden, and she had been very kind to him; but her kindness had been little better than cruelty, because he had demanded something more than kindness.
occurred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had hardly occurred to him, then, to question whether she would love him in return, it had appeared so very natural that she should.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And still he had never told her of his love.
Once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It had hardly occurred to him, then, to question whether she would love him in return, it had appeared so very natural that she should.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had hardly occurred to him, then, to question whether she would love him in return, it had appeared so very natural that she should.
rode
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It had hardly occurred to him, then, to question whether she would love him in return, it had appeared so very natural that she should.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It had hardly occurred to him, then, to question whether she would love him in return, it had appeared so very natural that she should.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Now he had found this maiden, and she had been very kind to him; but her kindness had been little better than cruelty, because he had demanded something more than kindness.
somewhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
starlit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And still he had never told her of his love.
stillness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Now he had found this maiden, and she had been very kind to him; but her kindness had been little better than cruelty, because he had demanded something more than kindness.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had hardly occurred to him, then, to question whether she would love him in return, it had appeared so very natural that she should.
thenceforth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It had hardly occurred to him, then, to question whether she would love him in return, it had appeared so very natural that she should.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must tell her even this very night while the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had hardly occurred to him, then, to question whether she would love him in return, it had appeared so very natural that she should.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading It had hardly occurred to him, then, to question whether she would love him in return, it had appeared so very natural that she should.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should thenceforth be all for her.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It had hardly occurred to him, then, to question whether she would love him in return, it had appeared so very natural that she should.
