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 Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
afterwards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
agonynounUS /ˈæɡ.ə.ni/
Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
anguish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
aware
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
babies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading One peculiarity of the child’s deportment remains yet to be told.
beautiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
betwixtprepositionUS /biˈtwɪkst/
an old word for “between”
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
channel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
child's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One peculiarity of the child’s deportment remains yet to be told.
criednounUS /cried/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
deportment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One peculiarity of the child’s deportment remains yet to be told.
discussion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
doubtfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
ejaculation
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From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
embryo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
fain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
faint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
Father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
fond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
GazingverbUS /ˈɡeɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
groan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
Heaven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
Hester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
hidden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
intelligence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
knees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
means
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From this reading By no means!
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
mouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading By no means!
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
noticed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
O
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One peculiarity of the child’s deportment remains yet to be told.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
overhearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
PearlnounUS /pɜːrl/
a smooth round object formed inside a shell and valued as a jewel
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
peculiarity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One peculiarity of the child’s deportment remains yet to be told.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
Prynne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
remains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One peculiarity of the child’s deportment remains yet to be told.
remembered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
responding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
resume
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
speech
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
sprite-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
subtile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
ThoupronounUS /ðaʊ/
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
throbs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One peculiarity of the child’s deportment remains yet to be told.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One peculiarity of the child’s deportment remains yet to be told.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
utterance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
vivid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading The very first thing which she had noticed in her life, was—what?—not the mother’s smile, responding to it, as other babies do, by that faint, embryo smile of the little mouth, remembered so doubtfully afterwards, and with such fond discussion whether it were indeed a smile.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself betwixt speech and a groan—“O Father in Heaven—if Thou art still my Father—what is this being which I have brought into the world?”
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading One peculiarity of the child’s deportment remains yet to be told.
