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 Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
allowed
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From this reading But now—since I am irrevocably doomed—wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Let it suffice that the clergyman resolved to flee, and not alone.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading But now—since I am irrevocably doomed—wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Let it suffice that the clergyman resolved to flee, and not alone.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The struggle, if there were one, need not be described.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But now—since I am irrevocably doomed—wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?
better
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From this reading Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But now—since I am irrevocably doomed—wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
clergyman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Let it suffice that the clergyman resolved to flee, and not alone.
condemned
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From this reading But now—since I am irrevocably doomed—wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
culprit
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From this reading But now—since I am irrevocably doomed—wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?
described
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From this reading The struggle, if there were one, need not be described.
doomed
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From this reading But now—since I am irrevocably doomed—wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?
earnest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
endure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
execution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now—since I am irrevocably doomed—wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?
fairer
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From this reading Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
flee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Let it suffice that the clergyman resolved to flee, and not alone.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
give
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From this reading Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
Heaven's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
Hester
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From this reading Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But now—since I am irrevocably doomed—wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The struggle, if there were one, need not be described.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
instant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
irrevocably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now—since I am irrevocably doomed—wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Let it suffice that the clergyman resolved to flee, and not alone.
Letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Let it suffice that the clergyman resolved to flee, and not alone.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
mercy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The struggle, if there were one, need not be described.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The struggle, if there were one, need not be described.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now—since I am irrevocably doomed—wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The struggle, if there were one, need not be described.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
path
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
peace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
persuade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
prospect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
pursuing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
recall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
resolved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Let it suffice that the clergyman resolved to flee, and not alone.
sake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
seven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading But now—since I am irrevocably doomed—wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading But now—since I am irrevocably doomed—wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?
snatchnounUS /snatch/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But now—since I am irrevocably doomed—wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?
solace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now—since I am irrevocably doomed—wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?
struggleverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəl/
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading The struggle, if there were one, need not be described.
suffice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Let it suffice that the clergyman resolved to flee, and not alone.
surely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Let it suffice that the clergyman resolved to flee, and not alone.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The struggle, if there were one, need not be described.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The struggle, if there were one, need not be described.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Let it suffice that the clergyman resolved to flee, and not alone.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The struggle, if there were one, need not be described.
whereforeadverbUS /werˈfɔːr/
an old word meaning “why” or “for that reason”
From this reading But now—since I am irrevocably doomed—wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading “If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy.
