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 She felt a morbid desire to ascertain the point.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Truly do I!” answered Pearl, looking brightly into her mother’s face.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
ascertain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt a morbid desire to ascertain the point.
attached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
brightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Truly do I!” answered Pearl, looking brightly into her mother’s face.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Dost thou know, child, wherefore thy mother wears this letter?”
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
desire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt a morbid desire to ascertain the point.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Truly do I!” answered Pearl, looking brightly into her mother’s face.
Dostauxiliary verbUS /dɑːst/
an old form of “do”, used with “thou”
From this reading “Dost thou know, child, wherefore thy mother wears this letter?”
expression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt a morbid desire to ascertain the point.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!”
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!”
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
Hester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Truly do I!” answered Pearl, looking brightly into her mother’s face.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!”
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!”
keeps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!”
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Dost thou know, child, wherefore thy mother wears this letter?”
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Dost thou know, child, wherefore thy mother wears this letter?”
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Truly do I!” answered Pearl, looking brightly into her mother’s face.
meaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
minister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!”
morbid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt a morbid desire to ascertain the point.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Dost thou know, child, wherefore thy mother wears this letter?”
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Truly do I!” answered Pearl, looking brightly into her mother’s face.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!”
PearlnounUS /pɜːrl/
a smooth round object formed inside a shell and valued as a jewel
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading She felt a morbid desire to ascertain the point.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!”
remarked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!”
satisfy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
singular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
steadilyadverbUS /ˈstedəli/
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
symbol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Dost thou know, child, wherefore thy mother wears this letter?”
thoupronounUS /ðaʊ/
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading “Dost thou know, child, wherefore thy mother wears this letter?”
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
thydeterminerUS /ðaɪ/
an old word for “your”, speaking to one person
From this reading “Dost thou know, child, wherefore thy mother wears this letter?”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
Truly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Truly do I!” answered Pearl, looking brightly into her mother’s face.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
wears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Dost thou know, child, wherefore thy mother wears this letter?”
whereforeadverbUS /werˈfɔːr/
an old word meaning “why” or “for that reason”
From this reading “Dost thou know, child, wherefore thy mother wears this letter?”
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.
